Immaturity

To The Editors of The Crimson:

The scene created by a number of students at the Freshman Union Wednesday night was probably the most infuriating and distressing thing we have seen since we have been at Harvard. In an incredible show of immaturity, ten or twelve male students flashed "rating cards" (one to ten, based on looks) at the women coming in to dinner. These well-dressed "gentlemen" also flashed cards with insulting pictures and comments at the women who did not meet with their approval. Those who did win the "seal of approval" were greeted with flashes of "Puss in Boots," "orgasm," and other equally flattering endearments. The whole affair was very offensive to almost everyone; it was certainly very embarassing to the women coming into the dining room.

This incident exposed the sexism which is a part of Harvard life. It was an embarassing display of the emotional and sexual frustrations of a group of self-indulgent adolescents. For the rest of the students who witnessed this game, it was simply mean and unpleasant.

That something like this could happen at Harvard, at last rumor a school for intelligent, sensitive people, not rude insensitive brats with high SAT scores, is very disappointing. This desperate play for attention was not at all amusing. It was a sad illustration of how many people here are insensitive to women and incapable of relating to them on a healthy basis.

We hope that this incident will enable people to recognize the woeful state of affairs between men and women at this institution. Perhaps some of the misguided intelligence of the student body could be redirected towards attaining more sensitive, humane relationships with the members of the opposite sex. We hope that these relationships will be based on a more mature understanding of the emotional, sexual and intellectual needs of men and women. Nick Goldberg '80   Benjamin Chereskin '80