Representatives of Council Defend NSA Affiliation at Adams House

Student Council representatives last night told the Adams House Committee that affiliation with the National Student Association justified the annual appropriation of $600 from Council funds.

Approximately $200 of the appropriation will go directly to NSA, while almost $400 is earmarked for travel expenses to the national convention.

The hearing was part of the yearly wrangle over whether membership in the organization is worth the money required. The Council voted two weeks ago to appropriate the funds in what was called an "apathetic" vote. A motion to reconsider was defeated at last week's meeting.

In answer to continued controversy, Alfred F. Hofeld '58, treasurer of the Council, explained that he had advocated association with NSA "for one more year on a trial basis" in order to determine once and for all the value of the organization to the Student Council.

He added that NSA had many worth-while services, such as a student information office, which the Council planned to use.

Robert Wilson '58, chairman of the Council's International Committee, also explained to the Adams group that NSA believed "students who are well-informed will make the right decision," and that part of the NSA program was to promote education on the international level.

The explanations came in the wake of mounting debate on whether NSA services were relevant to Student Council problems, or whether the organization was geared to the concerns of large midwestern universities.

Critics of NSA contend that the body is controlled from the top by a tight core of professional student legislators, and that Harvard plays a very minor role in policy decisions.