Red Book Cancelled, '47-'48 Album Suspended in Student Council Move

Following a three-day investigation which "proved conclusively" that financial solvency was impossible under present University rulings, the Student Council yesterday afternoon closed down shop on the 1951 Red Book and suspended indefinitely all active work on the 1947-48 Class Album.

The decisions were the result of a newly-formed University policy which withheld lists of purveyors from the two publications. In effect, the Council's action upheld the recommendations made Monday by Robert S. Leventhal '48, Council representative to the 1951 Red Book and Co-business manager of the combined 1947-48 Album.

Council Statement

Council members Michael Rothenberg '49 and Patrick D. Dailey '50 released their decision following a one-and-a-half hour conference with Dean Bender, Robert B. Watson '37, associate dean of the College, and Leventhal, in Dean Bender's office.

A statement announcing their action said, in part:

"The indications are now that plans for the 1951 Red Book and the 1947-48 Album must definitely be cancelled immediately, unless the University ruling on purveyors lists is changed. We wish to preclude the Council's incurring any further debts."

Reynolds Refuses Interview

The two Council members also consulted with Richard Axt '46, former President of the Council, and Jerome Preston '44, former Secretary of the Council, before taking the step which cancelled one publication and suspended the other.

A telephoned request to Edward Reynolds '15, administrative vice-president, who, the Council alleged, is responsible for the ruling, for a conference with the Council was turned down. It was reported that Reynolds told the Council he was more than ever convinced he had made the right decision and that further consultation would be useless.

6,000 Minimum Gap

The Council investigation indicated that the 1950 Red Book, the first to attempt operation without the purveyor list as basis for advertising solicitation, was already $500 in debt, and that the 1946 Album depended for about 85 percent of its advertising on those concerns selling to the University. These two books, the Council said, were the only publications considered in the investigation, since they alone have operated wholly under the post-war price structure.

With a budget of more than $21,000, it was found that the 1947-48 Album could not meet the $6,000 minimum gap between expected subscription receipts and total costs without purveyor advertising.

Leventhal's statement on the Album said "the University has placed us in an embarassing and perplexing situation. In the light of the University raling we have decided tonight to discontinue all active work on the publication until either the University modifies its decision or a suitable alternative method of financing presents itself.

"After conference with Deans Bender and Watson, no such alternative seemed likely. The Album Beard will make a definite decision shortly as to the final disposition of the book."

This board will investigate the total cost or stopping publication plans now or trimming the size of the book to reduce the budget.

Dean Bender told the Council representatives he had hopes that the Album would not be discontinued because of its tradition and usefulness, but that he did not believe in University subsidization of undergraduate class activities