The Mail WOMEN'S CENTER

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

The reasons which the Harvard Administration has given for the issuing of an injunction against the Women's Center are misleading. One reason which the University gives for the injunction is that the building is needed by the Graduate School of Design for classroom space. As students at the Graduate School of Design, we can say that the use of the building was minimal. Official University statements cite that the building was used for four classes per week and several dozen research projects. The four classes per week (minimal in itself) turn out to be one class twice a week and two classes once a week, a total of between 8-10 hours per week. The research projects done by GSD students in the building are infrequent and of short duration.

The other official reason which the University gives is that the "uses to which the occupants are putting the building may be dangerous." Perhaps returning the building to daytime use by lifting the injunction would remove the "grave danger" in which the resident occupants find themselves. If not, why were the Harvard students who used the building not also endangered?

These official statements not only ignore the Women's Center's demands, but also seem intent upon obscuring Harvard's consistent unwillingness to take a responsible position towards the Cambridge community as well as towards workers, students, and faculty at Harvard who need services such as daycare.

Judging by the present minimal Graduate School of Design use of the building and by the tremendous need for daycare, we support the use of the building for a Women's Center for at least the rest of this year.

Karen Olson

Leila Heckman

John Rahill

Vance Smith

Michael Hallett

Steve Diskin

Jean Poor

Bill McBride

Arthur C. Tsiouris

Charles H. Summons