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Kodak As You Go

THE MAIL

To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

I have read with interest the articles appearing in your columns last week urging certain reforms in the Fogg Museum, and while I am in agreement with the recommendations for library hours, entrances at night, and improvement of the lighting and ventilating systems in this building, I can not but feel that there was in evidence a narrow and selfish spirit in regard to the Radcliffe students.

It was urged that Radcliffe build an art center of its own for its students, who "take up space" and who "manifest" an "apparently irresistible temptation to whisper" in "what should be a men's library."

The writer of that letter may be interested to know that Radcliffe has been for some endeavoring to raise money to erect an art museum of its own with a library. This will, however, take a little time, for money does not gravitate so frequently nor in such large amounts to women's colleges as to those for men.

As for 'taking up space, that cannot be helped, but less space is occupied by Radcliffe than by Harvard in this room.

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The whispering complained of is not confined to Radcliffe students nor to the Fogg library. Take the Child Library in Widener, where protracted conversations are carried on often in unsubdued tones, whether or not anyone else is trying to read, or better still the Library of Architecture in Robinson, which is a "men's library" if there ever was one, where talking, discussions, and even arguments take place in loud tones.

The Radcliffe students are rather an asset, lending a bit of color and life to what would otherwise be a dull atmosphere.

The undersigned is taking several courses in fine arts at this time and is acquainted with conditions obtaining in the Fogg Library. Yours truly,   Cameron Blaikie, Jr. '31.

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