SPORTS STUDY

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Your interesting editorial of Thursday morning was further indication to me that an exhaustive study of Harvard's athletic program is now particularly timely and important. Your suggestions for economy in athletics are among the topics under consideration by the Student Council's Committee on Athletics, which has begun its preparation of a report for the coming year.

The main argument of the editorial--that support should not be given to athletics by the Faculty because it only involves half the school is rather weak. Less than half the school will use the new theatre, as well as the Fogg Museum, or even the Geography Department for which you have so consistently fought.

In any case, the editorial raises for consideration several more basic questions which have been concerning our committee. The decision to withdraw financial support from lacrosse was a product of much deliberation by the Administration and the HAA; it can be taken both as an indication of the need for economy, and of the Administration's reluctant willingness to take drastic steps in the area. In fact, the growing feeling in the Ivy group that athletics must be re-evaluated has led the Student Council committee to concern itself at length with the basic assumptions, aims and purposes of athletics: intercollegiate, intramurals, and freshmen physical training. Although it is too early to tell what conclusions the committee will reach, it is clear already that there is much need for a re-evaluation of the assumptions behind your editorial. Abe Lowenthal '61,   Chairman, Student Council Committee   on Athletics.