[We invite all men in the University to submit communications on subjects of timely interest. The Crimson is not, however, responsible for the sentiments expressed in such communications as may be printed.]

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Two clear tendencies run through all the present discussion of athletics in President Eliot's reports and among the undergraduates. They are (1) toward reducing the money cost of all athletic sports and the profitableness of some; (2) toward increasing general participation. Everybody will admit the desirability of at least these two objects of athletic reform. I believe that the two are not antagonistic, or separate, but go together, and that a solution of the financial part of the athletic question,--subscriptions, price of tickets, managerships, etc.,--will remove most of the real difficulties.

Most of the undergraduates undoubtedly feel that it costs too much to run our sports. The minor teams, which are on their own resources, have to economize strictly, but there is no doubt whatever that expenditures for the football and baseball teams, if not for crew or track, could be cut down largely by careful and business-like management, without hurting the teams. The pay of coaches, if they are the right sort, is I believe a legitimate expense, and a necessary one if we are to have first-class teams; but extravagance in training tables in the buying and use of uniforms and other supplies, and duplication and loose ends of various sorts run the expenses of the big teams up to lavish amounts. The best check on expenditures would probably be a graduate manager for all sports, such as Cornell has, with authority over all purchases and payments and accountability for all receipts. At present, the undergraduate managers have a pretty free hand in the spending of money.

The cost of seeing the intercollegiate games played in Cambridge is at present an excessive burden on undergraduates. Four or five years ago, an H. A. A. ticket at $5 admitted to practically everything but the Yale football game: then the Yale baseball game was made an additional charge at a high price; then the minor teams were thrown on their own resources and began to charge where most of them had not before, then the H. A. A. ticket was abolished entirely and all sports charged separately at a much greater aggregate cost. Subscriptions have continued as an additional and apparently unnecessary burden.

A solution of the financial problem could in my opinion be found in this way: (1) sell to members of the University, for $5, or less if possible, an H. A. A. ticket admitting to all home games in every sport major and minor; (2) abolish subscriptions, except for class teams, and leave managers and candidates for managerships free for the legitimate work of their positions, getting men out and looking after the general needs of the teams; (3) support all teams which the Athletic Committee allows to represent the University from a common fund, accruing from gate receipts and ticket sales; (4) put responsibility for economy in expenditures on the graduate manager, and for the share allowed to non-supporting teams on the Athletic Committee.

This policy would have the following advantages: (1) it would fix responsibility for economy and for the assignment of aid to the teams where it belongs, with the graduate manager and Athletic Committee; (2) it would avoid discrimination in favor of the sports that happen to draw large crowds; (3) the cost of tickets would be reduced, and the unequal burden of subscriptions would be taken off managers, who now have to devote a lot of valuable time to them, and off subscribers, who give grudgingly perhaps, or beyond their means because asked by a personal friend; (4) more men would see the games, and would be drawn into participating, especially in sports like track, lacrosse, and basketball, which can use men of almost any weight and build; (5) the managers, relieved of worry about subscriptions, could enormously increase the number of men in active competition. Even under the present system, the track management, by canvassing the dormitories and looking up individuals, was able to get 436 entries for the winter carnival. Competitions for managerships would be fairer and more valuable as experience if made in work of this kind, rather than in raising subscriptions.

The measures I have outlined would, I am confident, reduce the total cost of our sports and the cost to each man, distribute the necessary cost equitably, give all teams a fair chance, and greatly increase the number of participants. The reduction in ticket prices might be offset by the greater number that would probably be sold; if so, all surplus money for a number of years could be spent for needed improvements; if not, a reduced surplus would mean making those improvements more gradually, and less basis for the charge of commercialism in our sports.  J. M. GROVES '05.