Bells Are Ringing...

To the Editors of The Crimson:

Regarding the legality of ringing the Memorial Church bells (Crimson, Feb. 10): The crux of the issue isn't illegality nearly so much as it is the disappointing lack of respect for the peace of mind of those students living near the church. The Memorial Church bells ring 6 days a week (including Saturday) at 8:40 a.m. Since the bells ring for 5 consecutive minutes, those of us with bedrooms facing the church must get up by that time whether we want to or not. Especially on Saturdays it does not seem unreasonable to want to sleep past 8:40. Indeed, it is interesting to note that several years ago, so as not to disturb sleeping students, Lowell House changed its bell-ringing time from noon to 1 p.m.

What is particularly ludicrous, however, is that we are asked to make this sacrifice for the sake of tradition. Just as the University has seen fit to abolish other anachronistic traditions which intrude on the life styles of its students (like coat and tie rules, mandatory chapel, and single-sex dormitories--traditions which are probably even older than the bells), it should cease the preposterous practice of waking people up at 8:40 a.m. for no reason at all.

Finally, as to Dean Epps' contention that the bells signal the hour for classes, I will merely point out that those students who do not have classes at 9 a.m. prefer not to be "signalled," and those who do have classes can use alarm clocks. Barry J. Cohen '74