HSA Consolidates, Founds Own Linen Service

In a major reorganization move last month Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) dropped its contract agreement with Gordon Linen Service, the final step in a year-old plan to convert the line a division into a completely HSA run venture.

The linen service came under attack last term a hen in March a poll of freshman subscribers revealed that 63 per cent were dissatisfied with HSA's operation. They complained about inconvenient hours at the exchange depots short sheets, and solid linen.

The new arrangement will at least guarantee that no one is short-sheered. Although freshman subscribers scribers probably didn't notice it when they picked up their linen. HSA employees handed them new permanent press sheets a full one foot longer than those Gordon supplied last year.

Although the new operation will be HSA-run, it will not be HSA-owned. For 1972-73 anyway. HSA will lease everything--linen, washers and dryers, delivery truck, and the warehouse--from Harvard.

Harvard's involvement with the linen service began in September 1971. Stephen S J. Hall, administrative vice president, suggested to Michael 1 Ryan. 1971-72 president of HAS, that HSA consider running the linen service on an independent basis.

Simultancous investigations of HSA operations by the Commission of Inquiry and The Crimson, stalled Hall's idea last February. Both groups asked HSA for full disclosure of its financial affairs, particularly the percentage of scholarship students on its payroll.

HSA released a report in March showing about 60 per cent of wages going to scholarship students. The linen operation is the first step toward improving that percentage. Ryan, acting manager of the linen service until October, said last week that all 35 students hired to run the washers and dryers are on scholarship.

Ryan said that the students--all of whom are freshmen--were hired through the Student Employment Office (SEO). "We asked SBO which students really needed jobs, and sent out letters from the list they provided us," Ryan explained.

Renewing subscribers will find that more than the sheet sizes have changed. The linen will no longer be packaged, and the 35 employees will fold 4000 sheets, 6000 towels, and 2000 pillow eases by hand. Ryan estimates that HSA's laundry room--located in a Western Avenue warehouse formerly used by the Harvard Printing Office--will handle 350 sets of linen per day.

Harvard's reasons for entering the leasing arrangement with HSA seem clear. In the past. Harvard has contracted Gordon Linen to handle its laundry chores. With the new operation the University will no longer have to farm out its dirty clothes. HSA has already underbid Gordon for next Commencement's linen contract.

Ryan said last week that once the operation becomes established. HSA should be able to underbid any commercial outfit. Ryan said be expects HSA to underbid Crown Linen--the company that handles the uniforms worn by Harvard Food Service employees."

A possible legal tangle which could have delayed the new operation disappeared when Gordon agreed to let HSA out of its contract. "Technically, Gordon could have held us to one more year," Ryan said. "But they didn't complain, probably because they thought we would fail."

Jack Callahan, service manager of Gordon Linen, said last week, however, that he thought the new operation would work. "Harvard has invested enough for the plan to succeed," Callahan said.

Ryan admitted that the only loss which could seriously hurt HSA would be stolen linen. "Still, we lost $5000 last year replacing sheets for Gordon, so it's not an expense we haven't had to contend with in the past," Ryan added.

Harvard's outlay for equipment has exceeded $90,000. Some of this expense will be defrayed by wages HSA will pay scholarship students, which Ryan estimated will total $20,000. In addition, HSA will pay interest on the equipment, and become the first rent-paying occupant of a building that has been vacant since the Printing Office moved out earlier this year.

Harvard also has additional plans for the single delivery truck which HSA has leased. Since linen will be delivered only three times per week the University will allow the Harvard Recycling Project to use the truck on the remaining days.

When Ryan finishes his stint as acting manager a new manager will be named to oversee both the launders and the depot divisions.