FILM FIGHT

To the Editors of The Crimson:

We are people who work with film in the Harvard and Cambridge area. We feel that Paul Michaud has performed many services for film enthusiasts in this community, and we wish to make public our concern over the impounding by the West European Studies Department of funds which Mr. Michaud raised at the appearance of Francois Truffaut on October 3.

Organizing and presenting a film series at Harvard is still a difficult and time-consuming enterprise, from making rental arrangements through finding a suitable room and equipment. Staging even a small showing requires many hours of unpaid work. We are grateful to Mr. Michaud for the enormous energy and effort he extended to arrange Truffaut's presentation of Day for Night. To refuse to reimburse Mr. Michaud for his own expenses and his time seems to us both unjust and cruel.

If Harvard wishes to satisfy the legitimate and growing interest in film education, the University will have to support, not harass, individual efforts such as those of Mr. Michaud. We call upon the West European Studies Department to release the money raised by the October 3 screening and to make public its dealings with Mr. Michaud so that the community as a whole may judge the fairness with which this matter is handled. Stephen Rose   The Orson Welles Theatre