Widener Checks at Doors To Prevent Illegal Entry

Periodic checks of University identification will be made at the doors of Widener Library in an effort to case a growing problem of over-crowding. In the first such check, Tuesday night, security guards turned away 91 persons, nearly 15 per cent of those seeking admission.

Figures released yesterday by Foster M. Palmer, associate librarian for reference and circulation, indicated that an overwhelming number of those who sought admission illegally were women. At the front door 90 per cent of those turned away were women.

Tuesday night's action was the first of its kind in Widener's history. It came less than a week after Paul H. Buck, director of the University Library, complained that "we are being crowded out of the Widener reading room by people who do not belong there."

Simultaneous with the Widener check; Lamont officials were taking similar action. The results were significantly different, however, as only six people were refused admission and over 1130 were admitted.

According to Palmer, "the only explanation for the great disparity in the figures is Lamont's past history of door checking." Lamont, he noted, began periodic checks several years ago when it had "quite a serious problem of its own."

Pick Up Harvard Men

One library official suggested that the large number of girls entering Widener illegally "probably means that they are trying to pick up Harvard men."

Palmer speculated that students from Boston University, Brandeis, and Tufts constituted a large number of those violating the University's regulations. At times in the past, be noted, Widener had had a particular problem with Lesley College, a neighboring women's college, but that this situation was now "getting under control."