Laissez-faire: The Way to an End

Movies make money: on this all film-showing student organizations agree. But using this as both a criterion and an excuse, they have made the future of undergraduate-sponsored films precarious. The three organizations concerned-the Liberal Union, the United Nations Council, and Ivy Films-have generated much ill-will and caused Dean Watson, secretary of the Committee on Undergraduate Activities, enough annoyance for him to consider "curtailment" of films next term.

Undeniably, the student groups have made the end of film-showing imminent by their actions. In an atmosphere of constant squabble, one organization's charges against another for unfair competition or cut-throat tactics has prejudiced the Faculty Committee against all groups. Either insensitiveness or indifference to this has placed the organizations in the tenuous position they now hold. A good example is the meager attempt for reconciliation last week. The UN Council and the HLU stated that they were ready for some kind of agreement, and even exchanged films in violation of the releaser's contract. But the HLU then accused Ivy Films of wanting "exclusive" rights to film-showing at Harvard, a charge which Ivy Films' president did not deny. The gap now separating the organizations is consequently greater than ever.

Such bickering and name-calling serves only to emphasize the fact that the organizations don't realize they are getting something for nothing. Use of tax-free buildings for showings makes the University subject to loss of its tax-free status at the drop of a law-suit. The University is thus doing these groups a great favor in allowing them to show films. When squabbling and bad publicity are the results, it is natural that Dean Watson should consider a new policy.

To stop this bickering, a cooperative film management plan has been suggested. Directed by a board made up of representatives of all film-showing organizations, it would show all movies and split the profits between the groups. But, to make a bad pun, this seems like putting the cartel before the horse. Any piece of new machinery will fall apart as long as a spirit of cooperation between the components is not present. And if this sprits can come about, such a directorate is not necessary. Unless each group, then, realizes that the excesses of competition will end the opportunity to show films for each of them, there may easily be a sudden end to the College movie business next fall.