HUC Demands Cliffies Be Kept Out of Lamont

The Harvard Undergraduate Council voted yesterday to oppose the administration of girls to Lamont. Library officials are considering abolishing the long-standing ban on Cliffies in the undergraduate library.

In a letter sent yesterday to the deans and to Merle Fainsod, director of the University Library, the HUC listed three arguments against the presence of Cliffies in Lamont.

First, the problem of space: Lamont seats only 1200 and is often overcrowded even without opening its doors to 1200 Cliffies. Daniel C. Goldfarb Jr. '66, chairman of the HUC, doubts that enough Harvard students would use the new Radcliffe Library to offset the overcrowding.

The HUC also fears a book shortage, since the library was designed for the 1200 Harvard undergraduates. Goldfarb doubts that a significant number of Harvard students would use the now Radcliffe Library, which will be completed next September.

The third argument listed in the letter is what Goldfarb calls the "male emotional stability factor." Goldfarb does not think that this argument can be used to keep boys out of Radcliffe Library because "boys cause less disturbance in a female environment than vice versa." Several HUC members noted that it is "impossible to study" in co-ed libraries they have visited.

The HUC is considering taking a poll in Lament this week. "The poll would only make more definitive what we consider a strong negative reaction," Goldfarb said.

He emphasized that the HUC opposes girls in Lamont at any time of the day, and would not consider, as library officials have suggested, allowing them to use the library before supper but not after. "Although I wouldn't object to letting them in from 2 to 5 a.m.," Goldfarb commented.