Debating Council Reports That Lack of University's Aid Part Cause of Decline

Striving to remedy the fact that debating has played an "unimportant role" here for the past few years, the Executive Committee of the Debating Council submitted a report yesterday to the Council asking for an appropriation from the University and suggesting greater faculty cooperation.

"The problem of the Council is partly financial and partly faulty organization," read the report. The committee compared debating here with that of other eastern colleges, notably Yale and Princeton, and found that Harvard is the only college which does not appropriate money for debating. The report pointed out that the Oberlin College team was complaining because its appropriation had been cut from $1200 to $600, while the Debating Council receives only $340 from the Coolidge Fund.

Find Three Problems

In addition to the dearth of funds, the committee reported that opportunities for consulting with faculty members had not been taken. Also, the report suggested that the audience be permitted more participation in the proceedings at a debate. This would serve to stimulate general interest, if combined with efficient publicizing of all events.

To meet the financial problem, the the committee recommended that awarding of gold and silver medals be stoppel, that the Coolidge Prize of $100 be reduced to $75, with second and third prizes of $25 and $15, and that an appropriation should be secured to cover expenses such as travelling and entertainment of visiting debaters.

New Policy

A policy of having but three major debates next year, Vassar, Boston College, and Princeton, in addition to the H-Y-P debate, was urged in the report. This would leave the members with more time for outside speaking.