Thinning The Ranks

THE RECENT CONFUSION surrounding the exclusion of hundreds of would-be art enthusiasts from Literature and Arts B-16, fondly known as "Spots and Dots," has highlighted the chronic problem of overcrowding in popular courses, a problem which has increasingly haunted the Core. Once classrooms are juggled and extra section leaders hired at the beginning of each semester, there always remain several classes that are still simply too popular for their own good.

But which eager minds, thirsting for general knowledge, should be turned away. Clearly, the need for a consistent policy will become more urgent as the Core grows. Upperclassmen are quick to recognize that exiling freshmen is the only sensible solution, but roughly one fourth of Harvard undergraduates are curiously blind to this crystal logic. True gamblers, these freshmen prefer to go for broke with a random lottery. Both systems have some merit, and we advocate the oft-sought happy medium--a random lottery weighted for seniority for all oversubscribed courses.

Obviously, no one system can be totally equitable and account for all contingencies; courses should accomodate all comers whenever possible. Nevertheless, the College should adopt one uniform policy for limiting enrollment so that students can realistically assess their chances of getting into a popular course and plan accordingly. After the mix-ups in Lit and Arts B-16--in which students were mistakenly told that freshmen and sophomores would be excluded, only to find the Core policies dictated a random lottery--Core Director Edward T. Wilcox has said administrators are working toward such a uniform policy for all Core classes.

A random lottery is, on the whole, fairer than a last-in, first-out policy that excludes all freshmen. Freshmen may need a course as a prerequisite, or to test out a potential field of concentration, and should not be considered second-class citizens. But juniors and seniors are rightfully annoyed by being turned away from classes they will have no other opportunity to take. Although it can be argued that these students have had previous opportunities to enroll in the courses, the "last chance" appeal is a compelling one, particularly for new offerings.

Weighting a random lottery in favor of upperclassmen should present the most palatable compromise--one which avoids squabbles over access for concentrators, a perennially shaky question. Most Core courses required for a particular department should remain unrestricted, but in the interests of simplicity, equity and sanity, the College should adopt one comprehensive policy--a weighted lottery should offer such a solution.