Wooden, but Enterprising

Now that the major part of the Combined Charities' drive for Hungarian relief is complete, and the effects of adverse publicity on it negligible, we are compelled to voice distaste for the intrusion of campus politics into last Thursday's emergency Student Council meeting. It was a spectacle of confused thinking and selfishness which made the Council majority's inability to understand the issues painfully obvious.

In a restless, yet indolent atmosphere which betrayed most representatives' desire to go to supper as quickly as possible, the Council heard first from Greg Stone '58, chairman of Combined Charities. He said that he had looked into the best means of distributing the Harvard gift, and on the basis of his efficiency as an "expert" at fund raising, had chosen World University Service. Accordingly, and with no authorization, Stone had invited a New York representative of WUS who would explain how his organization would spend the money. The WUS man reported that all of the University's donation, along with gifts from several other American colleges, would relieve the suffering of Hungarian students among the 32,000 refugees now in Austria. The most liberal estimate placed the number of these beneficiaries at about 1200.

Next, the Council heard a plea from Peter W. Gross '58, who, along with several other students, had made extensive inquiries into the United Nations' agency now working for Hungarian relief. Gross pointed out that the UN money would be distributed among all the refugees, and that of all the refugees, and that of all age groups, students seemed probably best able to take care of themselves. He also observed that the name of the UN would probably attract more donations from the University at large than would the relatively unknown WUS.

At this point, Stone made his immortal statement: "I won't do it (the drive) if I'm told what to do with my money." The Council raised its lethargic head as Merom Brachman '58 fired back that Stone's Combined Charities was merely the fund-gathering arm of the Council, and therefore the decision about how the money should be spent was the Council's to make. Summoning courage, Edward M. Abrahamson '57, Council president, pronounced, "You are both right and equally right." The Council now moved on to the next point, though no one noticed particularly what it was.

Clearly, Stone had forced a test of his strength. In refusing to head a UN-directed drive, he tacitly had agreed to resign if the Council did not go along with his wishes, and more important, displayed that he had little actual concern for the welfare of Hungarian citizens--which the UN as well as WUS of course, has. To Council members about to vote on the matter, his fund-collecting agency rightly seemed to be the only efficient way of assembling a Harvard gift.

They now voted. One man was nudged from a drowsy state for the crucial decision, and another voted both "yes" and "no." When the tally was complete, it showed that a principled minority, led by Brachman, Theodore D. Moskowitz '58 and Larry Johnson '57, had been over-ridden by Stone forces, 8 to 7. President Abramson now gave a little speech in which he observed how wise the Council had been under duress, and that the fund was completely apolitical in nature. As a flurry of coats and men made for the door on adjournment, Al Hofeld '58, who had said nothing during the proceedings, rose and smiled an enigmatic little smile.

Outside, a few less ravenous Council members observed that Stone, whom one compared to a New England bowsprit, "wooden, but enterprising," should have been forced to resign. Stone himself admitted that the probable reason for his going against the UN was his commitment to WUS. The WUS man said no commitment had been made. It seemed, rather, a commitment to one man's pride.