HCUA Committee Report Endorses Constable Gen Ed Recommendations

The Harvard Council for Undergraduate Affairs voted last night to accept a report from its committee on educational policy endorsing the principles in the Constable Plan for General Education.

HCUA vice-chairman Michael E. Abram '66 said, however, that acceptance of the report does not constitute an HCUA endorsement of the Constable Plan. "Many of us don't agree with this position," he said, "but we feel that it is a reasonable one and worthy of distribution." The HCUA plans to send a copy of the report to each member of the Faculty.

Though it doesn't mention the Constable Plan by name, the committee report endorses both of Constable's proposals: that Gen Ed courses be continued but not required and that students be required to take courses outside of their field of concentration.

The report calls for students to be given as much freedom as possible in choosing their courses. "We feel," it says, "that it is a responsibility of the College to make as few requirements as possible. A student, regardless of requirements, is and should be responsible for his own education."

"Some prescriptive guidelines are both necessary and desirable," the report concedes. "But we feel that such guidelines should be absolutely as broad and liberal as possible."

Accepts PT Report

In other action taken last night, the HCUA accepted reports from its committee on freshman physical training and from its committee on student-tutor relations.

Citing an HCUA poll of 200 upperclassmen which revealed that 65 per cent of the college is in favor of required freshman PT, the physical training report recommends that this requirement be kept. It also calls for the athletic department to open the Indoor Athletic Building and the Hemenway Gymnasium in the morning to accommodate students who want to play basketball.

Finally, it asks that $200 be allotted in the Physical Training Budget to subsidize club sports. "Since the clubs perform a worthwhile function as part of the PT program in offering specialized instruction, they should be given some small financial aid from the PT program," the report suggests.

The report on tutor-student relations recommends that tutors try to establish more contact with students.