Alumni Day

ON THE DAY before the occupation of University Hall, three hundred alumni and their wives filed into Burr B for a Return-to-Harvard speech by George Wlad on student disillusionment and its relation to world politics. In the Leverett dining room where the alumni ate with Master Gill, SDS posters foretold of a meeting that night.

But few of the alumni even knew of the meeting, fewer cared, and only a handful might have understood what went on at the four-hour marathon.

In front of them now was George Wald, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist -- for the moment turned political activist. As he mentioned the necessity of world peace and the now famous military-industrial-labor union complex, young defensive alumni lashed back. "You seem to have left words like 'freedom' and 'liberty' out of your presentation," a 1949 graduate pointed out. And another slight 'fifties alum snapped that "As a management consultant for a six years, I've been at the intermediary level in government defense contractors negotiations, and I defy anyone to link the two in collusion."

The open discussion in Burr B flowed back and forth Several alumni walked out stammering under their breath that the place hadn't changed a bit. Same old flaming liberals. Outside some older graduates paused to talk about student protest in general although none felt any immediate alarm over the possibility that it might happen at Harvard.

"Most of the alumni think that Harvard is a good place," a 1934 graduate explained. "I feel a great deal of sympathy and empathy with students--maybe it's because my son just graduated last year--but I guess I'm still basically a pacifist and a believer in evolution and a believer in accomplishing ends through rational means."

A stodgy rabbi (class of '24), his speckled-H Harvard tie clashing rather prominently with a blue pin stripe suit, voiced his agreement with Wald. "Some students maybe have a legitimate reason for protest because they don't want to be pawns on the chessboard of world politics that may get us down into a horrible hole from which we may never be able to be extricated."

"45 years ago Harvard was very staid and submissive and quiet--and respectful of authority," he said. "In some cases today a little wholesome questioning of authority may be good because the older generation may not know everything."

"I don't believe in seizing buildings, however. I don't believe in using violence. I'm not a disciple of Ghandi--I know we have a right to defend ourselves in case we are attacked, but I don't believe in outward affirmative violence," he continued. Asked about alumni response to protest, he said, "I think we will rise up as one. The university means too much to us to have it violated by any students that may be misdirected."

Again, another alumni echoed the rabbi. "In 1934, we were too busy keeping our body and soul together; we couldn't afford the luxury of a conscience. You don't have to worry about where your next cup of coffee is coming from. I think that's good. I would have had a conscience too if I knew where my tuition was coming from."

"I am struck by students' moral courage today," he continued. "I still feel that they get a little self-righteous, but this is because they are still young. You don't get experience out of a book, you have to get a good kick in the behind.

"But I don't think they should take over a building, they don't have a right to do this; they don't have a right to destroy property. If you and I argue, there is nothing that you and I can't sit down and discuss."

UNANIMOUSLY in favor of students, unanimously opposed to disruptive demonstratins, the old alumni who returned to Harvard last Tuesday found the topic of student appearance much more relevant than politics.

"I don't like students' dress at all," the rabbi explained, "they should have more respect for college--not meaning you, you're wearing a tie, a jacket, and your hair is combed, you washed your face this morning--I don't like those big beards on boys; they don't look congruous to me--although the Bible says you shouldn't cut off your beard or the edge of your hair. the Nazarene. But we were brought up ... not to wear torn shabby clothes. Certainly the girls with the mini-skirts are really ridiculous in some cases. And the boys in the horrible jeans don't look so hot either."

"I will say one thing," a gracefully graying lady in her sixties confided, "there's not so much a change in students as a change in students' attitudes. They have no manners, and they're just not clean."

"In my day," her husband added, "everyone wore coats and ties. A student would be ashamed to walk from Lowell Lec to Memorial Hall without wearing a hat. You just don't see any hats these days." No, you just don't see any hats these days.