Bullitt Calls for Reduction In Size of Incoming Class

The size of the next Freshman class should be cut by about 100 students to relieve overtaxed facilities, John M. Bullitt '43, Master of Quincy House, urged yesterday. His suggestion drew opposition from two members of the Administration.

"The size of the College ought to be proportional to the facilities," Bullitt said. "The College is now admitting more students than the present housing system can handle."

The only sensible House system is one in which every student has his own room. "If a person believes in the House system of individual bedrooms, he cannot be satisfied with existing conditions," Bullitt emphasized.

Although not completely opposed to expansion, Bullitt asserted that "the size of the College should not increase until we build the Tenth House. Until then, he said, the size of the College must be reduced.

Pattullo Disagrees

Opposing Bullitt's view was Edward L. Pattullo, assistant Dean of the Faculty. "Although the Houses are probably too crowded," Pattullo declared, "many students would object to the increase in room rent which would be necessary to reduce the number of students living in each suite."

Secretary of the Faculty committee appointed last December to inquire into the size of the College, Pattullo maintained that a decrease in the number of students would necessitate an increase in both room rates and tuition fees.

"It was once the accepted custom for every student to have his own suite," Pattullo said, but existing conditions would make this ideal situation undesirable and impractical.

Fred L. Glimp '50, Dean of Admissions, agreed with Pattullo that it would probably be very difficult to reduce the size of the College to the extent that Bullitt suggested. "Harvard has a budget," Glimp said, "and if we lose the tuition from 100 students, we will lose a great deal of necessary income."

Glimp said that the President, the Deans, and the Masters decide the size of the Freshman Class every year. For the Class of 1964, Glimp stated, the limit was originally set at 1175, but late in the spring, "the Masters decided that the Houses could accommodate at least 1210 new students."