University, HAA Silent; Ivy League Comments on Bingham's Statement

Official silence closed in on the HAA and University Hall yesterday following Wednesday night's statement by William J. Bingham '16, Director of Athletics, that Harvard's athletic program was to be overhauled and football de-emphasized.

But there were repercussions from other Ivy colleges yesterday. President Harold E. Stassen of Pennsylvania, in Boston for two meetings yesterday, denounced any implication that Penn's State Scholarships were awarded for athletic ability. He offered to discuss the matter with President Conant, if necessary, to reach an agreement.

Bingham offered no comment when Boston newsmen told him of Stassen's remarks.

Laurence H. Tighe, acting athletic director at Yale, expressed surprise when told of Bingham's statements that "the Big Three no longer exists."

Big Three Exists

"Yale has not eliminated the Big Three," Tighe said. He added that he hoped it would continue "in fact as well as name, because it is a pleasant tradition." Tighe said he knew nothing about the Penn system of State Scholarships. "If we had to compete against proselyting, we just wouldn't compete."

Two other Ivy group officials had expressed views on this subject earlier in the week, and their comments were re-circulated yesterday. President Dwight D. Eisenhower of Columbia called for alumni support at a dinner Tuesday. "Unashemedly, I believe a University such as this should turn out top flight teams... I like to run over the other guy as much as he likes to run over me."

There was little critical comment from the press yesterday. One notable exception: Red Smith of the New York Herald Tribune, who said that "Harvard has abandoned hari-kiri as an athletic policy."