Lavish Celebrations Mark Second Year of 'Program'

"Two of my roommates got thrown out for heaving a stink bomb at a freshman dance, and the third left because he couldn't stand it one minute longer. I remained by the skin of my teeth." Despite such candid appraisal of his needy alma mater by this lone survivor, the College's intercontinental radio commercial--the feature event of Harvard's Day--won almost universal acclaim from those who are supposed to know. Variety, the show business journal, though that the broadcast "made the Harvard eggheads sound as provocative as peelers."

Variety's reviewer gushed: "If this program doesn't make former Harvard men shell out with moola for a much needed cause, nothing will." Well, the "friends" of the College have more than risen to the occasion. As of May 14, the date of the last progress report from General Chairman Alexander M. White '25, the Program had received over $39.2 million.

With most of the wealthiest contributors accounted for during an earlier phase of the campaign, the Program has, since Harvard's Day, directed its central appeal to the College's 45,000 living alumni. At the same time it is urging those who have already given to increase their pledges. The result has been a great increase in the past two months of the number of alumni participating, accompanied by a slight decrease in average daily income. According to the Program's April Progress Report, it had received about $37.3 million, representing 9,003 gifts, an average of approximately $4,100 per gift. One month later, the total number of gifts to the Program had decreased to 13,455, with the average gift now slightly less than $3,000.

Despite the tremendous acceleration of smaller gifts from alumni in the past several weeks, the Program still has not won, in sheer numbers of participants the degree of support generally accorded the Harvard Fund. About 20,000 alumni give annually to the Fund. One explanation of the hesitancy of many alumni to contribute at this time is the uncertainty among businessmen due to the impact of the recession. The controversy over the use of Memorial Church was seen as essentially an "intramural squabble," having no effect on potential contributors.

In an effort to stimulate alumni contributions, the directors of the Program have of late been urging alumni to make five-year pledges--that is, pay by annual installments over a five-year period. It is hoped that the active phase of the general alumni solicitation will be completed by the end of this year.

In the meanwhile, the Program is seeking three gifts that will total $15 million--a rather tidy sum that may come from alumni or corporations or foundations. According to Laurence O. Pratt '26, Publicity Director of the Program, these gifts are necessary if the campaign is to be ultimately successful. So far, there has been no gift from any individual alumnus of over $1.5 million.

Besides encouraging greater alumni participation and soliciting these multi-million dollar gifts, corporations and foundations will be asked to contribute to the Program in its stretch drive. Parents of students and other individuals not directly affiliated with the University will also be asked for their support.

Since President Pusey's special report to the Board of Overseers in October, 1956, the Program has come a long way. Eighteen months ago the President expressed the "need for a special program for Harvard College." And so began the most extensive fund-raising campaign in educational history. Today, almost two years later, many of the Program's objectives have been guaranteed.

Ten new professorships and substantial increases in Faculty salaries have been announced; preliminary plans for the new Theatre have been accepted; an Oregon couple has donated $1.5 million for the Visual Arts Center.

Dean Bender, director of the Financial Aid Office, has acknowledged the receipt of an additional $2 million for the scholarship fund endowments. A new freshman dormitory and additional football fields have been acquired. Library endowment has been increased substantially. And, of course, Quincy House represents one of the most important achievements of the Program.

With about $40 million to go, the exhortation of President Eliot has particular relevance: "Thus far came our fathers, now press you on."