Vox Clamans in Athenaeo

Approximately every four years the College's political clubs shake themselves from their lethargy to launch wild attacks on each other. After a few weeks the effort seems to overcome them and they quickly slip back into inactivity. While political debates continue in dormitory rooms and newspapers, local partisan groups ignore each other, their members thoroughly engrossed in agreeing with themselves.

Other universities have prevented this stagnation by forming political discussion groups to enable students to break away from their lecture environment and speak out for themselves. Time-honored organizations like Yale's Political Union, Oxford's Union, and Princeton's Whig-Cliosophic Society--all numbering over 300 in membership--are reminders of potential student interest in expressing as well as absorbing ideas.

Since the demise of the Athenaeum two years ago Harvard has had no political forum. During a checkered career Harvard's Athenaeum occasionally featured outside speakers like Peter Viereck who provided meetings that were, at least, controversial. But these were the exception. The rule was poorly attended discussions on uninteresting topics. After the graduation of its organizers, the Athenaeum died.

To avoid the fate that met its predecessor any discussion group at Harvard must have outside speakers as well as discussion. It also needs the organization that the Athenaeum lacked. To get both it would need the support of Harvard's currently existing political clubs.

Members of the HYRC, the Young Democrats, the HLU, and the Debating Club have already expressed interest in such a forum. Since none of these clubs exists primarily for the sake of political debate along partisan lines, such an organization would not be competing with them. The elections approaching again next year should generate enough interest among the whole undergraduate body to give a political discussion club a good start. The initiative depends on those who are most intensely interested in politics--the political clubs. If they are willing they can sponsor vigorous forums.