Alumnae, Faculty Eye City's Woes

Two Harvard professors discussed the theoretical and three Radcliffe alumnae replied with examples of the practical in a panel discussion yesterday morning on urban problems.

Charles W. Eliot II '20, professor of City and Regional Planning, outlined three propositions on which all planning efforts are based and discussed the seven steps involved in the formulation of any plan. The present concepts of land rights and property ownership must be revised, he said, to eliminate many unfortunate pressures--such as land speculation--now present in any planning effort.

Martha Derthick, instructor in Government, said the only way to solve urban problems was through an increase in coercion, a greater concentration of political power. Such solutions, however, would involve a decrease in the individual's freedom of choice and a corresponding decrease in democracy in urban areas, she said.

Urban problems, including high population density, bad schools, lack of public facilities, and air pollution are susceptible to solution through governmental action, Miss Derthick pointed out; people can be ordered to move out of cities, taxes heavy enough to provide good schools can be levied. But since action in these areas has met with increasing resistance, Miss Derthick suggested that the problems "may not be as urgent as we think they are."

The three alumnae speakers were all involved in direct-action projects. Helen C. Bond '37 discussed the activities of PACE, a Cleveland organization which recruited honors high school students to tutor underprivileged grade school pupils.

Felicia R. Clark '52, a participant in New York City's "Call to Action" program, described the overwhelming success of the project, which is designed to inform people of their rights to insist on certain minimum facilities.

Muriel S. Snowden '38 related her experience with Freedom House in West Roxbury in Boston