PROLIFERATING EXCUSES

To the Editors of The Crimson:

We object strenuously to your article "Getting Out of Exams is Easier Than You Think". The article undermines the necessary trust between students and physicians at U.H.S. It is important that the students' complaints of ill health be honored. Since a medical excuse is not equivalent to exemption from an exam, the student is not "getting out" of anything by obtaining the medical excuse, contrary to the implication of your headline.

The only possible effects of this article will be to embarrass the doctor involved and to encourage the administration to tighten regulations concerning medical excuses. No one stands to benefit from either of these.

We do not deny that the increase of medical excuses is of interest to the Harvard community. We do object to the manner in which the information was obtained and presented. We hope that the sloppy, irresponsible journalism evidenced by this issue will not be repeated. Susie Goldman   Lynsie Shea   Claire Smith