WAKE ME EARLY, MOTHER

On Monday a petition was posted in the Union in favor of extending the closing hour for breakfast there from 8.30 to 9.00, or, in default of that, of permitting Freshmen to sign for 14 meals a week instead of the compulsory 21. The petition was signed by about 175 Freshmen; but yesterday a new petition appeared saying in effect that if the change in breakfast hour would mean that the 58 student waiters would lose their jobs, then the Freshmen were not in favor of the change. Initiated by Freshmen other than waiters, this second petition illustrates an exemplary spirit of fair play. No change should go into effect if thereby 58 student waiters would lose their jobs.

On the other hand, if the Freshmen are vigorously back of this move for a later breakfast hour, they ought not meekly to accept the opinion of authority on the matter, but they ought to consider for themselves whether the change would in fact involve the dismissal of student waiters. On the face of it, it would seem entirely possible to push forward the breakfast hour, and still retain the waiters. In the first place, a large permanent force of waitresses is on duty in the Union, sharing the work of service with the student waiters. These waitresses could carry on alone after the student waiters had left for classes. Service after 9.00 would very naturally be lighter than between 8.30 and 9.00, especially since so many Freshmen are taking the larger lecture courses of History 1 and Government 1, which meet at 9 o'clock. In the second place, it ought to be possible to apportion the work among the student waiters according as they have or have not 9 o'clock classes. This might entail some extra bookkeeping as to hours work, but some sacrifices must be made if the plan is to be effected.

With their upperclass colleagues in the Houses eating breakfast at 9.30, and in dining hails conveniently near, the Freshmen have some cause to complain of their present system. Their Dana Hall breakfast hour only causes inconvenience to individual students, and an 8.29 A.M. chaos in the dining hall. It is no good answer to the suggested change that it would only succeed in pushing forward this chaos to 8.45. In the Houses, students who have 9 o'clock classes have found it advisable to appear in the dining hall before 8.30. The benefit of the later hour would accrue chiefly to those men who do not have 9 o'clock classes, and who in the past have arisen early only to eat a meal for which they have paid.