NEW SPORT EQUIPMENT IS URGED BY ALUMNI

Radical additions to the athletic equipment of the University, a more sympathetic understanding of the coaching problem, and a suggestion of the appointment of a Director of Athletics to have complete personal contact with the daily athletic activity of the University, are the most important features of the report of the Committee of the Alumni on Athletics, which will be read before the twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Associated Harvard Clubs to be held in Baltimore on May 21, 23 and 25. The report, together with those of all the other committees of the alumni on University affairs, is published complete in a special supplement to the Alumni Bulletin which was issued yesterday.

A new baseball cage, a new boat house, a swimming pool, new squash courts, a skating rink, a golf course and a polo field, are all suggested by the committee as necessary additions to the University athletic plant. In the beginning of the report the Committee expresses its complete approval of the present attention paid by the University to athletics, and expresses sympathy with the statement of Professor Mendell of Yale that "athletics make education safe for the Yale undergraduates."

Excerpts from the article follow:

Added Facilities Needed

In view of the constantly increasing number of students at Harvard, particularly in the Graduate Schools, it is obvious that the present athletic facilities are not only lacking in certain very important features, but that they will soon become entirely inadequate. Of the obvious needs at present, some seem quite easy of solution; others require study for their proper solution. Problems are also existent, the solution of which will be bound up with the future athletic policy of the University and, therefore, need special study from several angles. In addition there are also needs which may of the moment seem fanciful but which should receive consideration as possible future developments.

Larger Cage Possible

A new baseball cage, large enough for the proper development of baseball teams, is much needed.

A boat house for single sculles should be given consideration. While on the subject of rowing, permanent and more adequate quarters at New London are needed.

It is obvious that a plant to afford additional facilities for indoor exercise and a swimming pool are highly desirable, with the least possible delay. The construction on a swimming pool on a site already selected is now under serious consideration.

More squash racquet courts will be needed, as this form of exercise is developing rapidly and is one of the most popular and beneficial of winter sports.

New Stadium Not Urged

A problem which calls for an expression of policy on the part of the University is that of proper seating facilities for the big football games. It is now impossible to offer undergraduates and graduates of the University, not only the number of seats they desire, but, in many cases, the number which they deserve. This matter is continuing to receive the consideration of the College authorities and, therefore, this Committee feels that to make a definite recommendation, in regard to additions to the present Stadium or the building of a new Stadium, is unwise. However, the Committee feels that it is distinctly advisable to consider the acquisition of additional land in the vicinity of Soldiers Field which could be used to advantage in extending athletic facilities in general.

The present administrative quarters of the Harvard Athletic Association are over-crowded and plans should be made for rectifying this problem.

In the offing are visions of a skating rink with artificial ice, a golf course, and a polo field. Such facilities would be of great value in offering opportunities for exercise to the students, as well as to the development of teams for competition.

This Committee feels it is important that the physical development of the Graduate Schools should include the development of opportunities for exercise and recreation for their students, in addition to the opportunities now offered on Soldiers Field.

44 Coaches For 14 Sports

The coaching problem today is not to eliminate, but to provide as many coaches as are needed to help every undergraduate who wants to play. Exercise is a big motive and last year the Harvard Athletic Association employed forty-four paid coaches at a total cost of $75,000 to supervise fourteen different kinds of sport, for which thirty-nine different schedules were made with teams from other colleges or schools.

In the opinion of some members of this Committee, the whole athletic situation would be greatly relieved if Harvard could have an alumnus with a sound experience and a broad knowledge of athletics to serve under the Athletic Committee as its representative in the day-in and day out administration of athletics. He would have general supervision of all branches of sport, would advise as to the appointment of coaches, try to build up a permanent system of coaching and training in each branch of athletics, coordinate the different branches, strengthen the weak spots and see that the strong ones are generally maintained and generally reinvigorate Harvard athletics and hold them on a sound and efficient basis. He would also devote such time as he could spare to building up intra-mural sport.