Criticizes Varsity Club Editorial

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

I read with great interest the editorial in the CRIMSON on Friday morning describing the building of the proposed new Varsity Club as an "outrage." In view of a number of inaccuracies and an apparent misunderstanding of the facts, I have come to the conclusion that your readers would want to know the background which certainly must have influenced the Corporation in its vote to use part of Mr. Allston Burr's generous bequest to build a new Varsity Club.

I think your readers should be informed that the building furnished will not exceed a cost of $250,000 nor is it expected that Mr. Burr's bequest will be in an amount as large as $1,500,000. There is no question but that Mr. Burr had a deep and sincere interest in Harvard, as evidenced by his statement to the CRIMSON which was quoted. His interest in Harvard athletics and in the Varsity Club was demonstrated by the fact that he had given the present Varsity Club in 1912. The record of his generosity shows his interest also in other University activities.

What your editorial writer did not know was Mr. Burr's real interest and hope that some day the University might have a new Varsity Club. It is true that his bequest was legally unrestricted. The facts are, however, that for many weeks just prior to his death he was discussing with the executive committee of the Varsity Club its need for a new building and his desire to be helpful in securing one.

This had gone so far that Mr. Burr had actually consulted an architect. The matter was brought to the attention of Mr. R. Keith Kane, special adviser to the President, in order to seek his counsel on the relationship of a new Varsity Club to the other needs of the University and at the same time bring to his attention how keenly interested Mr. Burr was in the need for a new Varsity Club. Unfortunately, Mr. Burr died not long after this conference. It is a significant fact that after Mr. Burr's death, a note was found on his desk stating words to the effect that now at last he felt real progress had been made towards the eventual acceptance by the University of a new Varsity Club. A review of these facts would, I believe, convince your readers that although Mr. Burr's will provided unrestricted funds to the University a moral obligation existed to carry out his wishes that a new Varsity Club be built.

The Provost most certainly has established certain priorities for the needs of the College. Many pressing needs exist and we all hope they will eventually be filled. I hope you will agree with me, however, that the wishes of a generous benefactor cannot be entirely ignored, and that it is therefore fitting to use part of Mr. Burr's munificent bequest for a purpose that I am convinced was close to his heart. James R. Reynolds,   Assistant to the President

The CRIMSON editorial writer had the background information when he wrote the editorial to which Mr. Reynolds refers. Shortly before his death, Mr. Burr told the CRIMSON he was not in a position to know the needs of the University. The CRIMSON is convinced that, in view of his interest in the University as a whole, Mr. Burr would not have insisted on a new Varsity Club had he understood that the money was more urgently needed elsewhere.