WHEN CONSTABULARY DUTY'S TO BE DONE

With a hundred and ninety odd residents of Winthrop House petitioning Lehman Hall to restore their former janitor to his accustomed beat, the recent shake-up of the college's night watch has catapulted into public notice. For what might seem to the administration merely a routine shift of duties for the staff has cast its shadow over the everyday life of the whole college.

Yet from the point of view of sound business administration periodic changes--say once or twice a year--in the duties of those who patrol the college has everything in its favor. Unless all the night porters are familiar with every nook and cranny of the University, their usefulness in protecting the property and population is seriously impaired. With their simple routine functions to perform, the force's efficiency and morale is stiffened and braced by a change of outlook and terrain. Furthermore, the position of night patrolman at any one house should not become a vested interest, for watchmen and porters should be considered as University employees, available for duty in the college at large.

But in trying to keep the staff on its toes, the administration must not fall into the pitfall of making its shifts too frequent. Life in the Houses becomes more pleasant and comfortable if the inmates are on friendly terms with the men who stand at the gates, and the Winthrop House petition bears striking witness to the service which these men perform. It is to be hoped Lehman Hall will not lose sight of the value to the residents of friendly dealings with those who serve, yet only stand and wait.