FRESHMAN GRADES SHOW IMPROVEMENT OVER '41

Rumors that this year's Freshman class is the dullest in recent years were blasted yesterday when University Hall released statistics of the mid-year grades. Although the number of "C" marks has declined from 46.7 to 44.5 percent, the number of honor grades has increased from 35.2 to 37.4 percent.

Exception to this general rule is History I where few students made the "A" group. Since no one of great distinction was found in this course, the LeBaron Russell Briggs Prize, formerly given each year for the best essay written in the mid-year examination, could not be awarded this year.

The percentage of Freshmen on probation has remained constant at 18.1, but Dean Reginald H. Phelps '30 explained that the position of students this year with unsatisfactory grades is no where near so hopeless as last. "The troubles with students on pro now can be ironed out whereas in 1938 their mistakes were much more fundamental," he said.

Dean Phelps, furthermore, jokingly predicted a business slump, "because," he said, "the number of honor grades is inversely proportional to the welfare of general American business."