Communication

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

The problem presented in your editorial of last Monday, "Hostility to Harvard", seems to me to be of particular moment, and although I may not be especially well qualified to judge, I nevertheless should like to set forth my opinions, in the hope that those who disagree with them, or have more to add will not remain silent. Something certainly should be done to change this attitude which seems to exist toward Harvard, and we can not do very much until we find what the causes are. So, as the CRIMSON suggests, I think "much will be gained by their open discussion."

The feeling referred to is probably due to a combination of causes rather than to any one cause, though some are undoubtedly more important than others. I do not think that the admission requirements or the arrangements of vacations, or any reputation of being a "sissy" place are very important causes, though they may have some weight. "The lukewarm reception which is only too frequently given to school and college teams visiting us" I believe is an important cause. Another important factor that explains to some extent why Exeter, Andover and other schools are sending more and more of their men to Yale and Princeton, is that Yale and Princeton are making particular efforts to get those men, and are succeeding, while we, for the most part, stand by and let them go. No doubt there are other causes, but these occur to me now as being of special importance.

There seem to be two ways in particular in which Yale and Princeton, for example, get in touch with fellows in the schools. The first is in the athletic meets, either between the freshman team and the school team, or in interscholastic: track, swimming or tennis. A very great deal depends upon the reception that is given the school team, and the way things are run off. Not only is if befitting our courtesy and sense of hospitality to treat them cordially, and to make them feel at home. It is distinctly worth our while, and decidedly necessary that we should do so if we wish to have them leave with a friendly feeling toward Harvard and a desire to come here some time themselves. They should be shown around so that they get a real idea of what the place is like if they aren't already familiar with it. They should be really made to feel at home. For example, I think provision should more often be made to put the fellows up over night, here at the University, instead of having them come, compete, and go, as they sometimes do. Many of the school teams may visit both Yale and Harvard. If they are hardly noticed here, and are given a good time down at New Haven, the conclusions at which the members of the visiting team will in all probability arrive, are not hard to conceive. I know of specific instances in which valuable men have been lost to Harvard because of lack of hospitality. This is much less true now than formerly, but whereas our reception is now called "luke-warm", it was not very long ago that it might have appropriately been called "cool."

The second way is in the relation between the school and University at other times than at athletic meets, and particularly in the relation between the alumni of a school at a university and that school. Much can be done by the alumni in college if they try to persuade their men to that college. Most of the schools represented by several alumni here are organized in clubs, just as they are at Yale, Princeton, and other places. At Yale and Princeton, however, they are far more active than they are here. They not only keep in touch with their schools, but are continually doing what they can to get their men to go to Yale or Princeton, as the case may be. Some of them give a cup annually to the best all-around man in, say the Junior form or grade at school. They hold dinners and meetings inviting perhaps the football team, perhaps the whole Senior class, or everybody, and have prominent Yale or Princeton men talk to them, and tell them why they ought to go to Yale or Princeton, and invite them to come down and see the place, and see that they have a royal time if they do. The fellows keep in touch with their personal friends or fraternities perhaps, and whenever opportunity is presented, do some persuading.

On January 26th the CRIMSON published a "Comment" from the Andover "Phillipian" which gave an account of a meeting at the Yale Club "at which 200 fellows were present." The underlying cause of the meeting was to try to get rid of the present ill-feeling against Yale." I know of other meeting of a similar nature, whose object was perhaps rather to establish a more friendly feeling toward Yale than to get rid of an ill-feeling. And Princeton has done the same thing.

All this has been done to some extent. I know, at Harvard, but to a tax less extent, I am sure.  Theodore Dreies '23

(A further presentation of the problem will be offered in a continuation of this communication, to be printed tomorrow. --Ed.