Emerson Hall Losing Statue?

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Class of 1821, may be thrown out of Emerson Hall.

Architects Collaborative, commissioned to supervise the current renovation of Emerson Hall, have informed the University that a larger-than-life-size bronze statue of Emerson does not "fit in with the plans" for a "functional and attractive" first-floor hall.

A gift of the Class of 1831 and "copy-right Duveneck and Barnhorn," the statue was placed in the building on May 25, 1905, Emerson's 100th birthday, when the building became the first in the United States devoted to the study of philosophy. Legend has it that Harvard men used to touch Emerson's protruding foot for good luck on their way to Emerson D for an exam.

Rogers Albritton, chairman of the Philosophy Department, said last night that he has advised the architects that it would be "better not to remove" the statue.

Anyway, remodeled Emerson will have air conditioning.