(The Crimson invites all men in the University to submit signed communications of timely interest. It assumes no responsibility, however, for sentiments expressed under this head and reserves the right to exclude any whose publication would be palpably inappropriato.

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

For some time there has been widespread discussion concerning the athletic policy of the University. Radical changes have recently taken place at Yale. The object which seems to be in view is to make organized athletics an institution for the many and not for the few.

The question of having a great many teams with an opportunity for everybody to play, and no cutting from the squads, has been discussed. Anyone in touch with athletics at the University realizes that this system would not get many more men interested in sports than at present. The average man is not going to supply himself with equipment to play on the 13th team, and it is no enjoyment playing in an inadequate outfit. In order to encourage men to come out regularly for sports they must be supplied their equipment. At the present time all men on major sport teams except football, and all minor sport men, have to furnish their entire outfit. For a man to play hockey or baseball this outfit is of considerable expense. Even if a man wins an "H" he must buy it out of his own pocket. The man without means in College is discouraged from competing. If he is persistent and has many embarrassing interviews with the manager, and obtains a signed statement from the coach as to his ability, the Athletic Association may supply him with a uniform. It is useless for a man of mediocre ability to attempt borrowing an outfit from the management. In order to get many men of average ability to exercise we must give them some encouragement. The first way is to supply them with adequate equipment.

Now at the present time it is quite impossible for the Athletic Association to undertake this responsibility. It has handled the situation caused by the war in an extremely satisfactory manner, but in order to make it possible for Harvard teams to play intercollegiate games and take trips away from Cambridge, it is essential for the Association to economize in every possible way. The outfitting of teams is quite impossible, let alone supplying the great number of other men who should be encouraged to compete. This financing of athletics which, after the initial outlay, would not be very considerable, should be undertaken by the University. In fact, the whole athletic system might well come into the University's jurisdiction instead of being in the hands of an allied organization. In that case the Bursar, at the direction of an athletic committee, would have the right to spend money for athletic purposes. There is no doubt that if men were to be provided with decent equipment, many more would take an interest in competing than do at present. Men of mediocre ability do not care to come out for baseball when they have to play in their old white flannel trousers, use a ball with the horsehide off.

As everyone agrees that more men should be encouraged to devote some of their time to exercise, and as it is seen that if equipment were provided more men would be given the advantage which they cannot now afford, and as the Athletic Association is clearly unable to make this its function, the University should devise some method whereby it could better control the financing of athletics, and purchase the outlay which is so essential to the physical development of its students. R. McA. LLOYD, JR., '19.