Winthrop House Council Asks HSA Investigation

The Winthrop House Committee last night recommended the establishment of a three man committee to investigate "both the purposes and procedures of the Harvard Student Agencies.

J. Stanley Pottinger '62, secretary of the Committee, urged that three House committee chairmen be named to meet with Dustin M. Burke '52, faculty director of HSA, to make "a rational and responsible investigation into the complex issues surrounding the HSA controversy."

"Heated and forceful remarks have rough the issue to the attention of the Harvard community," Pottinger said, and now less deeply committed people should work to correct the problems.'

In choosing three House Committee chairmen to meet with Burke, the Winthrop group considered people who "had expressed an impartial interest in the HSA, but would not be afraid to put pressure on the organization to make a full account of itself."

Last night, Michael A. Washburn '62, Chairman of the Lowell committee, James T. Halverson '62, chairman of the Adams Committee, and John Hodges '62, chairman of the Eliot committee, were asked to serve on the special commission. All three accepted.

Pottinger said that Burke has already agreed to meet with the commission and to release financial statistics to its members. Although the HSA may request that certain personal information be kept confidential, Pottinger stressed that "the commission will be free to report at its own discretion."

The commission will meet with Burke and other HSA officials next week and then make a general report to the student body on the issues which caused the present controversy. Washburn said last night that the first report will probably be in the form of a press conference for the major University news media.

By Feb. 10 1962, the commission, after several meetings with Burke, will issue full written report on its findings and commendations. Representatives of HRB and the CRIMSON will again be able to question the commission.

Pottinger said that the Winthrop House committee took the action "because as yet no constructive solution to the problem has been offered." He stressed that the commission is responsible "only to the student of Harvard College, and will act independently of any supervision."

The Winthrop resolution called for investigation of "the obligation to student required by the HSA's monopoly status at Harvard" and of the "criteria involved in determining 'needy students." A study of the complaints caused by the linen depot system, beer mugs, and other HSA services was also asked.

In other action last night, the Leverett House Committee named three of its own members to meet with Burke, and the Quincy Committee called for "regular financial reports from the HSA."