'56 Petition Scores Lamont Hours, 'Demands' Extension

Close to 500 freshmen signed petitions last night declaring the present freshman study accommodations "inadequate" and demanding extension of Lamont hours.

Thomas M. Low '56, chairman of the Union Committee, immediately announced that a special committee will be set up at the regular meeting Wednesday and will "take immediate action."

Director of the Harvard College Library Keyes D. Metcalf said last night, "We will do what the student body really wants, providing their requests are economically feasible. But it is a matter of dollars and cents. The additional hours proposed would cost the College $0,000. Do 1,000 freshmen want to pay $0 apiece?"

The petition read: "We the undersigned declare the present freshman study accommodations inadequate and demand that Lamont remain open until midnight on weekdays and on Saturday night and all day Sunday."

Ninety-five percent of the Yardlings contacted signed the petition circulated by Barry R. Bartle, Victor C. Harwood, Robert R. Kessler, John L. Lizars, and L. Donald Tashjian, all freshmen.

Tashjian claimed, "We freshmen get left out in the cold. On weekends, when we should get caught up on our work, both Lamont and Widener are closed."

"They can't expect freshmen to stop studying at 10 o'clock," commented Lizars. "I have to study sometimes five or six hours a night," he said, "and I can't get in more than three when I have to leave Lamont at 10."

Harwood said, "Freshmen don't get the same chances as upperclassmen. And by closing at 10 they are just inviting us to go out and get into trouble."

Phillip J. McNiff, head Lamont librarian, countered yesterday, "I don't think anyone uses the number of hours available to him. We give 75 hours a week service right now. The fact is, "he continued, "the students are in class only 12 hours a week and have the rest of the time to study here."

Meanwhile, several freshmen were taking advantage of later closing hours at House libraries to study for an hour or two after Lamont shuts down.

Director of the Harvard College Library Keyes D. Metcalf said last night, "We will do what the student body really wants, providing their requests are economically feasible. But it is a matter of dollars and cents. The additional hours proposed would cost the College $0,000. Do 1,000 freshmen want to pay $0 apiece?"

The petition read: "We the undersigned declare the present freshman study accommodations inadequate and demand that Lamont remain open until midnight on weekdays and on Saturday night and all day Sunday."

Ninety-five percent of the Yardlings contacted signed the petition circulated by Barry R. Bartle, Victor C. Harwood, Robert R. Kessler, John L. Lizars, and L. Donald Tashjian, all freshmen.

Tashjian claimed, "We freshmen get left out in the cold. On weekends, when we should get caught up on our work, both Lamont and Widener are closed."

"They can't expect freshmen to stop studying at 10 o'clock," commented Lizars. "I have to study sometimes five or six hours a night," he said, "and I can't get in more than three when I have to leave Lamont at 10."

Harwood said, "Freshmen don't get the same chances as upperclassmen. And by closing at 10 they are just inviting us to go out and get into trouble."

Phillip J. McNiff, head Lamont librarian, countered yesterday, "I don't think anyone uses the number of hours available to him. We give 75 hours a week service right now. The fact is, "he continued, "the students are in class only 12 hours a week and have the rest of the time to study here."

Meanwhile, several freshmen were taking advantage of later closing hours at House libraries to study for an hour or two after Lamont shuts down.

The petition read: "We the undersigned declare the present freshman study accommodations inadequate and demand that Lamont remain open until midnight on weekdays and on Saturday night and all day Sunday."

Ninety-five percent of the Yardlings contacted signed the petition circulated by Barry R. Bartle, Victor C. Harwood, Robert R. Kessler, John L. Lizars, and L. Donald Tashjian, all freshmen.

Tashjian claimed, "We freshmen get left out in the cold. On weekends, when we should get caught up on our work, both Lamont and Widener are closed."

"They can't expect freshmen to stop studying at 10 o'clock," commented Lizars. "I have to study sometimes five or six hours a night," he said, "and I can't get in more than three when I have to leave Lamont at 10."

Harwood said, "Freshmen don't get the same chances as upperclassmen. And by closing at 10 they are just inviting us to go out and get into trouble."

Phillip J. McNiff, head Lamont librarian, countered yesterday, "I don't think anyone uses the number of hours available to him. We give 75 hours a week service right now. The fact is, "he continued, "the students are in class only 12 hours a week and have the rest of the time to study here."

Meanwhile, several freshmen were taking advantage of later closing hours at House libraries to study for an hour or two after Lamont shuts down.