New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-14
HARVARD SPORTS SAFE.
MUST BE RESTRICTED.
Board Of OCerscers Vote to AuthOr-
iae Intercollegiate athletics.

Boston. March 1.-THE long pending question
- whether Harvard would be permitted to en-
cage further in intercollegiate sports was dis
Tosed Of to-day when the board of overseers of
she college. accepting the recommendations Of a
majority Of special committee. voted to au-
.boTize intercollegiate athletics although in a
strfcted form. This means that football and
other games viii be continued at Harvard, as
The corporation of the university has already ac-
oepted he report Of the subcommittee.
The majority report reviewed al length attn
letic conditions at the university and paid
,ribute 10 the Harvard athletic committee for its
accomplishment OF needed reforms But the
committee thought and the board of overseers
agreed that the number Of athletic contests
should be reduced. expenses of intercollegiate
games should be cut down and professional
coaching in any form should be done away with
as soon as possible.
The committee recommended that the athletic
committee use every effort to secure concerted
action with other colleges to abolish professional
coaching.
A severe condemnation Of football is made by
Moorfeld Storey. the sole dissenting member Of
the committee. who presented a minority report
The recommendations of the majority report
are in part as follows:
That the method OF selecting the faculty mem
bers Of the athletic committee be changed, and
that instead Of three members OF the university
faculties. TO be appointed by the corporation
faculty of arts and sciences, the dean Of Har-
ward College and the dean OF the Lawrence
Scientific School be ex ofiicio the faculty MEM
bers Of the athletic committee.
That the method of electing the undergraduate
members of the athletic committee be changed
that these undergraduates may be chosen for
each college year during the first week of June
during the preceding college year by the major
itv vote of the following students: The presi-
% sf,n coFo11n
man classes. and a representative from each
athletic organization which has during the col
lege year in which the election is held been per-
mitted by the athletic committee TO take part in
intercollegiate contests.
That there he no change I'm the number or
method Of selecting the graduate members OF the
committee.
That intercollegiate contests be permitted as
heretofore under The supervision of the athletic
committee constituted
to secure the services OF some man who can give
HIS entire time the work. TO act as graduate
manager and as administrative officer OF the
athletic committee, 10 attend to the details now
attended 10 by the chairman Of the committee
under the direction Of the athletic committee.
That the athletic committee be recommended
TO see that the athletic expenses are reduced as
Ear as In tts judgment they reasonably can be.
and that the eNtraVagances mentioned in this
report be done away with
That the athletic committee be recommended
20 reduce the number of intercollegiate athletic
contests.
That the athletic committee be strongly rec
sional coaches.
The report is signed by Henry p Walcott,
Henry /. Higginsson George B. Shattuck,
Moses Williams and Thomas y. Perkins.
The receiving and discussion Of the special re-
port OF subcommittee on the question Of ath-
letics al Harvard was the chief item Of business
before a stated meeting Of the board Of over
seers. The members convened at II o'clock AT
No. 20 State street, and were in session several
hours.
The agitation for and against intercollegiate
athletics. and football in particular al Harvar I'd
has been long and bitter. President Eliot has
expressed himself as against football time and
again, and in his annual report. made public last
week. again characterized il as a game which
vas too fierce for either students or specta-
tors. Those in favor Of continuing football were
that they called President Roosevelt 10 their aid
and at a recent meeting at the Harvard Union
he spoke al length in favor OF the game
In future every EFFORT must be made not only
bring about a corresponding decrease in the re-
ceipts J. must be made possible for the under
graduates 10 attend all athletic contests espe-
elally football at nominal charge, under the
theory that the games in which Harvard en-
cages for the student body primarily and
not for The outside world.
Following out this idea. no extraordinary
Preparations will be made TO handle the So
called 'Aig" games. No extra seats will be erect
ed al tho stadium 10 accommodate the crowds
which would buy tickets were they on sale
With reference 10 the professional coaching svs-
TEN. the overseers find no objection 10 various
departments OF sports having an INSTRUCTOR"
or teacher but hereafter the professional coaches
shall act simply In the capacity for which thev
ossensihly were hired, a.: shall have nothing
10 Go with the policy OF the teams or with any
thing except that which relates 70 the devel-
oprHent OF the young men placed in their charge