Soc Rel May Give Students Policy Voice

The Social Relations Department is considering plans to give students formal representation on department committees.

In a letter sent to committee chairmen this week, Thomas J. Cottle '59, assistant chairman of the Social Relations Department, has proposed that both graduate and undergraduate students serve on the committees.

members of various other departments contacted last night expressed surprise at the decision of the Social Relations Department. They said they had no similar plans.

Cottle said yesterday that the Soc Rel Department will probably discuss the issue at its next meeting early in December. He is now awaiting reactions to his proposal from the committee Chairmen.

Degrees of Representation

The Social Relations committees will have varying degrees of student representation, David C. McClelland, chairman of the department, predicted yesterday. On some committee students will become formal members and on others they will attend informal meetings or become members of faculty-student subcommittees.

"We are delighted to have the students give advice where it makes sense," McClelland said.

Various Committees

The Soc Rel Department has committees to deal with departmental policy, the library, undergraduate instruction, higher degrees, international studies, and ethics. It also has subcommittees for its four areas of study, social psychology, social anthropology, clinical psychology, and sociology.

David Riesman '31, chairman of the Departmental Policy Committee, said yesterday that his committee will concentrate this year on problems of the undergraduate. He plans to have his committee invite small groups of students to their meetings on an informal basis.

The Soc Rel Department's action is in part a response to a request by its graduate students. Concerned about the shortage of available space in William James Hall, the graduate students organized and presented their views to the department.

At that time the department agreed to consider methods by which students could express opinions to the faculty.