Council Votes To Begin Poll On Red Issue

The Student Council voted informally last night to continue plans for its poll of student opinion on whether Harvard professors are indoctrinating students to Communism.

Later in the meeting, a Council member withdrew his motion for a vote of confidence in the procedures of Anthony C. Beilenson '54, as chairman of the Council's Committee on Academic Freedom.

Arnold L. Schucter '55, leading opposition to the idea of a Council-sponsored poll, said the Council would only be "answering McCarthy's ridiculous charge with a ridiculous poll."

Denying that the poll would only be an answer to McCarthy's recent accusations, David P. Bicks '55 said, "We hope to find something helpful to the University."

Two Questions

Present plans for the poll include two questions, one asking whether the student had ever seen evidence of indoctrination. The second will ask for a description of the ways in which this indoctrination takes place. In a special meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Council will vote on the final form of the poll. It expects to distribute 400 polls within the next week.

Members also questioned the Student Council's role in the recent statement by the Student Council Committee of Undergraduate Organizations on Academic Freedom. Clifford L. Alexander '55 called for a vote approving the procedure of Beilenson, the Council's representative to the Committee.

Bicks then claimed that Beilenson had violated one of the Committee's rules by releasing the statement without agreement of all member groups.

The Young Republicans had refused to sign the statement and HYRC president Roger A. Moore '53 1L had charged Beilenson with violating Committee rules.

When Beilenson admitted that Bicks was correct, the motion approving his procedure was withdrawn.