ROTC May Accept All Eligible '53 Candidates

Every eligible freshman and sophomore may be allowed in the Reserve Officers Training program, if enough sign up today at the Student Council Office, Council President Richard M. Sandler '52 announced last night.

Sandler recently talked with Dean Watson, who said that if interest is great enough the University would ask the Army to enlarge the R.O.T.C.

The first opening in the program came when Colonel Charles P. Summerall, Jr., professor of Military Science and Tactics, permitted 100 freshmen to enter two weeks ago.

However, only 92 were qualified for the positions. The Council then tried to have the remaining places filled by sophomores,, but Summerall preferred to take only freshmen. He agreed to accept ten more freshmen, making a total of 102

A previous Council report indicated that Harvard's R.O.T.C. unit was much smaller than those of other colleges. The Council then voted unanimously to ask the College to petition the Defense Department for an enlargement of the program.

Shortly thereafter, Colonel Summerall allowed the 102 additional freshmen to enter. But no provision was made for sophomores. Earlier in the fall, a large group of sophomores were turned away from Shannon Hall; yet at many other colleges, sophomores were accepted and even encouraged to join.

Since then, Sandler, Richard E. Johnson '53, and David L. Stark '53, who wrote the initial R.O.T.C. report, discussed the situation extensively with Dean Watson.

It was understood that if enough students want to join, the program will probably be opened to sophomores next year, and possibly to juniors.

In most other colleges, both freshmen and sophomores are now allowed to join.

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Program is limited by federal law to 15,500 students in 52 colleges; no increases are foreseen. The Air Force R.O.T.C. is limited only by personnel needs, and increases are expected soon.

The Council requested all interested freshmen and sophomores to register at the Council office in Phillips Brooks House from 1 to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow