6 Athletes Show Disapproval Of Varsity Club Construction

Adding to the number of recent comments against the proposed new Varsity Club, several leading athletes expressed their disapproval of the plan yesterday in informal interviews with the CRIMSON.

Varsity football and hockey player Henry D. Sedgwick, II '51 affirmed the greater need for the money in other phases of athletics, notably a hockey rink. "This new club building, as well as the cancelling of the Stanford game, were both faulty steps on the part of the University, but at least they show that the administration is concerned over the College's athletic situation," he said.

World skating champion Richard T. Button '52 supported him in saying that "unless they are obliged to build the new Club, it's an unwarranted luxury, for I believe there is a big need for the money in other athletic lines."

Suggests Scholarships

Sophomore sprinter Richard W. Weiskopf '52 favored use of the money in academic lines by saying "It might be used to better advantage in building up the scholarship endowments, which the University says are painfully low. Such a use isn't so dramatic as a new Varsity Club, but it is more valuable to the College."

Samuel C. Butler '51, another varsity football player, said he thought the College needed other things more, mainly a theater and a hockey rink, in that order.

Favorable comment on the new building came from football captain Phillip L. Isenberg '51 and track team head Geoffrey H. Tootell '51. Isenberg thought the new Varsity Club would "improve athletic spirit in the University," and Tootell said "It's a good thing. It was the donor's wish, and his wish must be honored."

Freshmen Note Nay

Meanwhile two of last fall's freshman gridiron players voiced their view in a letter to the CRIMSON. John H. Ederer and Edward M. Cohen said ". . . a new Varsity Club will do little to improve athletics at Harvard. . . . The present disposition of the money is wasteful, and will please no one."

The University announced its decision to build the new Varsity Club in front of Lowell House May 4. The funds are to come from the donation of the late Allston Burr '89, who also financed construction of the present Varsity Club. Burr's gift was unrestricted, though he had expressed a desire to see the new Club built.

During a debate at the Student Council Tuesday, Herbert P. Gleason '50 suggested that there was reason to believe that members of the Varsity Club Executive Committee had exerted considerable pressure on Burr to specify that his money should go to a new varsity club.

It was also intimated during the discussion that the Corporation was backing the varsity club project mainly because it feared that if it antagonized graduate members of the varsity club, it might be jeopardizing its alumni fund drive.

Patrick B. McCormick '50, arguing together with John T. Coan, Jr. '50 in favor of a new varsity club, said, "The present Varsity Club is sort of like a 1932 Ford. Sure, it gets you to work but it isn't really an enticement to athletic candidates for admission and it isn't much as a place for athletes to go and get together."

Coan maintained that a new varsity club would be very valuable in building up the esprit de corps of Harvard athletic teams.