Groundbreaking Sparks 'Program'

The call of the golden spade yesterday summoned alumni from Boston and New York to begin the second big push of the Program for Harvard College. About 500 area chairmen and captains returned to Cambridge to speak, to watch, and to listen, as the drive for the "thinner cats" began.

In addition to breaking ground for Quincy House, yesterday's festivities put into motion the Boston and New York solicitation campaign which will begin in earnest after Harvard's Day on March 28.

With most of the "fat cats" solicitation out of the way, the Program, which as of yesterday had garnered $34,250,000, turned to the prospects expected to contribute less than $100,000. The day was intended to inspire the Boston and New York leaders to organize their campaigns before and "hit" prospects shortly after March 28, so that the solicitation can be completed by Commencement--90 days away.

Inspiration began with a meeting in Winthrop House at 9:30 a.m. Here Program Chairman Alexander M. White '25, disclosed that the present recession had set the Program back "in the neighborhood of $5 million."

As has been true with other alumni meetings in the Houses, visitors were most impressed by the undergraduate panel, and particularly by Harry Fitzgibbon '58, who met his House Master for the first time yesterday morning and praised the House system because "it lets me alone."

Lowell House Luncheon

Following this, the visitors passed to Lowell House, where a central kitchen meal and a closed circuit broadcast awaited them. With microphone arranging by President Pusey and Laurence O. Pratt '26, public relations chairman, White, professors Myron P. Gilmore and Edward Purcell, and Barbara Ward spoke on the material and educational aspects of the Program.

The program closed with the alumni and an HGC recording singing "Fair Harvard," a sentimentality somewhat clouded by a slowing down of the record and a subsequent destroying of the melody. The guests tried to continue singing, but most people eventually collapsed with laughter, and President Pusey was later heard to remark, "The New Haven radio station was no doubt jamming us."

The short interlude of groundbreaking provided a break in the fund meeting, but it was resumed in the Lamont Forum Room, where Program directors gave specific instructions for raising money.

"Not Many Eggs"

John E. Lawrence '31 noted that while the drive has fallen behind in gifts of one million and over, it has met its goal in the $100,000-$1 million section, and has exceeded its goal in the $10,000-$100,000 group. White announced that a "small foundation" had given a gift of $650,000 for a use as yet unnamed.

Metaphoric suggestions were offered by James R. Reynolds '23, Program Manager. "You don't get many eggs if you have a great many roosters and very few hens," the amateur farmer noted. "No cow ever let down milk in response to a letter or a telephone call," he warned; "you have to sit down beside her and go to work."

Following this line, Pratt announced that "my specialty is corn," and proceeded to give an illustrated eight-point talk on the way to raise $82.5 million. Pratt cited a formula indicating how much people should give: (the prospect's largest single gift) times 2 times 3 (years).

As the lights in the Forum Room became dim for the showing of "The Age That Is Waiting" and some alumni left to prepare for the heady Union dinner later in the evening, Pratt quoted President Eliot's exhortation: "Thus far came our fathers, now press you on." Leaving the platform, Pratt softly added his own exhortation, "Good luck to all of you."