Brooks House 'Cliffe Merger Takes Effect

In a cabinet meeting Monday night, the Harvard Phillips Brooks Association and the Radcliffe Voluntary Service Organization merged officially, William W. Freehling '58, president of the Harvard group, announced. Harvard voted 190 to 25 and Radcliffe 25 to 2, in favor of the move.

The merger will take effect immediately, with Mary Costanza '58 honorary president and Roselyn Leinwand '59 honorary secretary. These positions correspond to former offices in the Radcliffe organization. The PBH service committees have also been integrated, and will be directed by co-chairmen instead of separate committee heads.

Freehling said that the impetus for the merger was provided by the fact that "Radcliffe has been so vital to PBH as a parallel organization that they deserve to become an integral part."

The most important result of the election, Freehling remarked, is that the unified group will be able to work more efficiently than its predecessors. There will be less duplication of effort and no unnecessary conflicts. "The men and women can work more closely to produce better social service in the Boston community," he added.

Radcliffe girls will have their first chance to become full officers of PBH when the joint organization holds its elections in March. At that time, the terms of the honorary officers will expire.

In merging, the social service agencies followed the examples set recently by the United Nations Council and the Harvard Dramatic Club.