Marital-Minded Students Sign Petition For "Practical Sociological Course"

By midnight yesterday, two hundred eleven students had signed a petition for a "practical course treating the subject of marriage sociologically," which began circulating in the college at noon the same day.

Pitirim A. Sorokin, professor of Sociology, said that most of the problem was treated in various courses in the department, especially the popular course in "Family." He declared himself in favor of a "special practical guidance course," providing it didn't emphasize the Medical School's field of physiology, nor become a mere superficial exposition of courting techniques.

"About petting and necking the students would know more than the professor," he asserted.

Professor Sorokin saw no need of making the course a compulsory one similar to English A, because "a really practical course will command attendance without any compulsion."

Eager Yardlings rushed to sign the petition with cries of "Let me at it," "Boy!" In a more serious vein, William L. Calfee '39, ex-president of the Lampoon warned: "It'll need plenty of lab periods." John S. Stillman '39, newly elected president of the Student Union, speaking unofficially, snorted: "This bourgeosie farce, marriage, must go,--forever!"

Several Radcliffe girls were found to be among the singers of the petition. Miss Vivian Wolfe, pretty blonde Freshman said: "The Harvard boys need a course like that -- badly." However her companion, Miss Alice Barr, Radcliffe '40 assured that "they know enough already." Miss Jane Samble, Radcliffe '40 deplored: "Even such a course wouldn't make a Harvard man fir for marriage."