THE BINGHAM REPORT

Mr. Bingham, in his annual report to the President of the University, after going to considerable length in an unnecessary defense of the policy of the H.A.A. in regard to House athletics, brings forth with some hesitation the suggestion of a fixed fee for the use of athletic facilities, to be levied on the term bills of all undergraduates, replacing the present system of participation tickets.

It is common knowledge that the Athletic Association suffered a considerable loss in income during the past football season, and the proposal of such a fixed fee will be seen by many as an attempt to force the students to make up the deficit. However, if, for example, a $15 blanket fee were levied on all undergraduates, adding in the neighborhood of $10,000 to the H.A.A. coffers, it would not only have precedent but also weighty arguments in its favor.

Yale and Princeton require all their undergraduates to pay $20, directly or indirectly, for the use of athletic facilities, while Harvard, on the other hand, has always charged only those men who use its facilities. A blanket fee at Harvard, which would incidentally get rid of some of the present red tape, would induce many of the men, who do not now exercise, to utilize the recreational opportunities which they have hitherto for one or another reason chosen to ignore or avoid. In particular a number of the Freshmen, who, after taking their year of free compulsory exercise, balk at the sight of a fee suddenly thrust in front of them as Sophomores, would continue to exercise if they were to be charged anyway. Of course, those incapable of exercising should be absolved from paying any such fee.

However, any large fixed charge on the term hille, intended to cover attendance at intercollegiate contests as well as the use of athletic facilities, would be manifestly unfair. It is the duty and right of the H.A.A. to encourage "Athletics for All," but it is not their role to prescribe that all shall watch athletics.

Although a fixed charge on athletics would undoubtedly arouse considerable opposition from those men who do not now use the athletic facilities, and also from many others because of the increase in the charge, still it must be considered in making any final judgement that the Harvard student at the present moment gets more than his money's worth for his participation ticket, and that, viewed in the broader aspect, a fixed fee would tend to benefit the system of athletics at Harvard as a whole.