Council Appoints Group To Investigate Biochem

Acting on Dean Bundy's statement Tuesday that President Pusey desired the Biochemical sciences question to be reconsidered at the Faculty's next meeting in April, the Student Council last night set up a seven-man committee to investigate the whole issue.

Meanwhile, it was learned that not all scientists had voted for the Thimann Report--a proposal to abolish non-honors study in Biochem--as first had been indicated. In fact, Frank M. Carpenter, chairman of the Biology Department, said "I am under the impression that more members of the Biology Department were opposed to it than favored it."

The reasons for the negative votes on the part of members of the Department, were based to a great extent on a report given by the Committee of Undergraduate Students and Studies in Biology. This faculty group pointed out that if students were forced out of Biochem, more than half would probably go into Biology, thus overcrowding the present advisory system in the Biology Department. At present, most members of the Biology Department have about 15 students each, and a further load would seriously burden the advisers.

Negative Recommendation

Taylor A. Steeves, chairman of the committee, said his group therefore recommended that the Thimann proposal be defeated. "Our first consideration is the educational program," he said. "Overloading advisers is a secondary consideration, but since it affects a large department, it indirectly affects the educational program."

Council President Edward M. Abramson '57, in announcing the student committee, said it would probably hold hearings next week to discern student as well as faculty opinion on the question. Richard B. Merlo '57 will head the group to be known as the Biochemical Sciences Evaluation Committee.

Other members are: Martin N. Cohen '57, Richard Paul '57, Frederick M. Grossman '57, Jack D. Bagdade '58, John G. Jewett '58, and a freshman to be named.