'Cliffe, Council Combine To Study Joint Problems

Radcliffe and Harvard Student Councils will conduct joint investigations of academic problems pertaining to both student bodies, Lois A. Dickson '54, Radcliffe Council President, announced yesterday.

The possibility of enlarging the program whereby students may spend their junior year abroad is to be the first of the councils' collaborations. If this plan were widened, students in History, History and Literature, Government, Economics, English, and possibly other fields, would be able to study abroad their junior year. At present only Romance Language concentrators may do this.

John W. Stokes '54 and a student who will be appointed from the Radcliffe Curricula Committee will head the group to consider this problem.

At their meeting Tuesday, Radcliffe Council members passed unanimously the resolution that "Student investigation of academic progress be coordinated with the Harvard Student Council through the Radcliffe Curricular Committee." The Harvard Council had previously agreed to this.

Commenting on the coordination of the two councils, Miss Dickson said yesterday, "One consolidated effort by both Student Councils will perhaps be more effective than the dual efforts of the past."

Paul D. Sheats '54, Student Council President, said that they will work together only on academic problems. "In the sphere of academic projects we feel we will derive the most benefit because it is there that we have most in common with the Radcliffe Council," he said yesterday. "This will aid greatly the Council's goal of improving the educational standards of the College."

Both councils have ways of reaching the faculty which are not open to the other, Sheats said. Radcliffe can work through their Curricular Committee, which works with the faculty in investigating academic problems, and Harvard through its report system. Every year Council members make systematic reports on how to improve educational standards here.