Council Vetoes Conservation Poll; Members Disapprove Plaque Plan

In an adamant, eleventh-hour decision, the Student Council last night voted overwhelmingly to cancel distribution of a poll that would have given University students the opportunity to accept or reject a voluntary food rationing program at Harvard. The poll was to be taken today.

By its action, the Council postpones indefinitely the adoption here of any such food-saving schedule. Dining halls now observe only meatless and eggless days.

The poll, scheduled for distribution throughout the University today and already approved by Business Manager Aldrich Durant '02, was prepared by the Council food committee on the recommendation of Charles Luckman, Chairman of the Citizen's Food Committee.

Council Approval Withheld

Luckman suggested five of the seven questions on the poll, food committee Chairman John K. Lally '49 said last night. Council President Edric A. Weld, Jr. '48 declared after the meeting that "the Council would far rather hold something up than put out a poll which it does not think comes up to our standards."

Council disapproval crystalized mainly around the fact that the poll was prepared for public consumption and not completely tailored for use at the University, Council member Michael B. Rothenberg '49, who stated that he was completely behind the President's food-saving program declared that the quality of dining hall dinners is currently so low that he felt the student body would balk if asked to give up food. He based his opinion, he said, on talks with members of Eliot House. The Council overwhelmingly agreed.

Revised Poll Planned

Requiring the student to answer yes or no, the poll asked (1) are you willing to use no meat on Tuesdays; (2) no eggs on Thursdays; (3) is the student willing to forego bread, toast, or rolls one meal per day; (4) eat pie one fewer day each week; (5) give up wheat cereals one day in seven; and (6) take only what he will eat. The final question asks students whether they approve dining halls serving "food of the week," the victuals most plentiful at a certain time.

Lally was instructed by the Council to re-draft the poll with the aid of other members. Weld said that it will be presented to the student body 'as soon as possible," and stated that Durant has assured the Council that if the voluntary savings program is approved. It will go into effect soon after the vote is taken.