Group Cooperation

The recent passage of food consumption regulations and the consequent reaction they have provoked seem to warrant a calm effort towards a more peaceful aftermath of the situation. Hence, this letter.

Some of the most respected courses in the College treat of scientifically evolved methods of secure co-operation of groups in just such situations. The principles have been worked out and have been satisfactory in practice. It is, therefore, somewhat ironical, not to say frustrating, to see one department of the University community totally ignore what another department has helped to create.

The student body is not unreasonable, but it is human. If presented with the statistics, it is capable of taking co-operative action to aid the dining hall system. For instance, how many are aware that the annual cost of wasted milk has reached five figures? But when rules are imposed without consideration for the tender feelings of the student body, it is inevitable that friction will result in the form of antagonism against the dining halls. By any objective criterion, our dining halls. By any objective criterion, our dining halls are doing a highly satisfactory job; the food here is, after all, unsurpassed by any comparable institution.

Therefore, for the achievement of more harmonious relations between the student body and the dining hall system, it would be highly desirable that the former take a more mature approach to the situation, and that the latter pay more attention in the future to its public relations. Eric Kilnger '54   Gerard P. Murphy '55