Overseers' Oversight

Though not participating in any beer parties, the five distinguished alumni on the Overseers' "Committee to Visit Harvard College" noticed a lot when they poked around the House last spring. But the Committee's report, which was submitted to the Faculty recently, contains one observation that could stand a bit of correcting.

Speaking about the effect of overcrowding on the Houses, the Committee states: "We are aware of the official opinion that the Houses are overcrowded and that an important element of 'gracious living' has disappeared on that account. But we must report that on this score the undergraduates appear to be a good deal less concerned than the faculty."

There are several possible reasons that the Committee did not find "concerned" undergraduates in the Houses. One is that many of these undergraduates were not there at the time: they were out eating in restaurants because they couldn't get into the House dining room. Another is that many upperclassmen, who know "gracious living" only as a sardonic commentary on the present situation in the Houses, have no idea of what it's like to have a room of their own in which to sleep and study. Having never had this experience, students can hardly be "concerned" about missing it. But at any rate, we should like to suggest to the Faculty, the Overseers, and the Visiting Committee that today's undergraduates are concerned about the consequences of overcrowding. What the Committee regards as merely an "official opinion" is also a valid and important fact.