Undergraduates Leaving School In Record Numbers, Says Epps

While the national press glows with news of the "cooling of the campus." the cooling may be colder than they think. According to Dean Epps, the rate at which leaves-of-absence are being granted has reached "epidemic proportions" at Harvard this year.

Dean Epps said in an interview yesterday that the percentage of leaves-of-absence granted during the current academic year will "probably be close to 6.6 per cent of the total student body." The normal rate-computed over a six-year period ending last year-is 42 per cent.

Reasons for the increase-over 50 per cent-have been hard to pin down, Epps said, but one important factor has been the draft lottery system.

"Because people know more or less where they stand in regard to being drafted, they are much freer in their choices," he said. "For instance, someone with a number over 200 will leave if he really wants to because he knows he probably won't be drafted."

According to Epps. the reasons people leave are divided into six categories-draft, personal, travel, study, financial, and "exotic". The "exit" reasons are those which do not fit into any other category.

Asked whether the increase indicates a general dissatisfaction with the education students are receiving at Harvard, Epps replied as follows: "While the rate at which people are dropping out may reflect some dissatisfaction. I see it mainly as a reflection of the disparity between what students are sorting out for themselves and what the University can offer them to solve their problem."

Critical Students

A number of students currently on leaves-of-absence were questioned last night about their reasons for leaving the college. While most agreed in substance with Epps' analysis, they were considerably more critical of the educational system here.

Christopher B. Peters '72, one student on leave-of-absence, expressed the feelings of a large portion of the students contacted last night. "Not only are the courses here irrelevant, they are just plain harmful," he said. "They teach an entirely perverted way of thinking, a way which exists solely for the preservation of this social system."

Housing Affected

Epps said the large numbers of people leaving would mainly affect the area of housing.

"It will be necessary," he added, "for the University to plan ahead and take into consideration when placing people in residences, that over 300 people will be taking leaves-of-absence each year.

"It will become increasingly necessary to overcrowd people in the houses in the Fall, anticipating the drop in actual enrollment," Epps said.