Residents Lay Low--Briefly

New angles keep cropping up on the Observatory Hill front, and this week, residents opposed to the construction of a gym for Quad residents decided to lay low until after the election.

Two weeks ago, the consensus among members of a community action group who have decided to fight Harvard all the way was that election time would provide them with the opportunity to make the issue public.

However, taking into consideration all the "puffery" that floats around campaign speeches, John Riseman, a member of the Quality of Life Committee, a community group which opposes construction of the gym, said Thursday a public hearing to discuss the issue in front of the Cambridge City Council had been scheduled after the election to avoid superficial treatment of the problem.

Cambridge Mayor Alfred E. Velluci called the hearing earlier this week for November 14, after several residents spoke to him at a "Candidates Night" party two weeks ago to win his support on the issue. They appear to have succeeded, although it doesn't take much to convince Vellucci to fight Harvard.

Burton I. Wolfman, administrative dean for Radcliffe College, appeared oblivious to the controversy surrounding the proposed gymnasium.

"Well, we haven't even thought of applying for a building permit yet, because we aren't done with the plans," Wolfman said. "When we're finished though, we'll just apply."

Members of the Quality of Life Committee who have taken stands on the issue of stopping Radcliffe, are working to draw as many citizens to the meeting as they can. Their eventual goal, however, is to stall Radcliffe long enough to change the state law, yet another tactic in the continuing battle to "save the hill."