Number of Letters Affects Definition of 'Substantial'

Definition of a "substantial rea-reference for a House may decide the number of letters sent to Dean Munro by freshmen, according Chalmers, the only Masters on committee on Assignments.

Chalmers, Master of Winthrop House, explained in an article in the (see page three), that "subviously must remain a relative the Dean [Monro] has at least of how many letters he will he receives very few, he may well accept them all; if, on the other receives a great many, it will be necessary for him to dis-high proportion in order that a distribution may be achieved."

The definition of "substantial" has been one of the puzzles of the new House system. Dean Monro has its interpretation has been the Committee on Assignments, begin meetings after March.

Finley '25, Master of Eliot at week defined "substantial" any letter sent to Dean Monro Freshman. He said that it would be to the benefit of all freshmen to send letters of preference. This way, the Masters will know whom when they make specific requests to the Committee on assignments,

Chalmers' article indicated that such a flood of letters might be detrimental to freshmen whose hope for assignment rests on the acceptance of their reason as "substantial". He suggested that as the number of letters increases, the interpretation of "substantial" would necessarily become sticker. Many freshmen letters, he added, would thus carry very little--or no--weight.

Earlier this week. Richard T. Gill '48. Master of Leverett. House, said that the "only way a student can influence his chance with a House is a letter." But because the Committee on Assignments has left the definition of "substantial reason" undetermined, he said, freshmen do not realize how they should express their wishes or even if they can make a choice at all.