Douglas Mercer '40, of Brookline, was elected chairman of the Union Committee according to an announcement last night by Kendric N. Marshall '21, Secretary of the Union.

Mercer is also Chairman of the dance committee for the first Freshman social event, and a member of the Freshman Committee of the Phillips Brooks House. He finished third in the competition for Freshman football manager.

On the advice of last year's Committee, the present group is the first one which has elected its own chairman and acted as a thoroughly independent organization. In previous years lack of organization had caused members to rely largely on non-Committee men in formulating plans.

The following are the other members of the Committee: Henry A. Burgess, Sheridan, Wy.; Arthur Cantor, Mattapan; William C. Coleman, Eccleston, Md.; John L. Donnely, Webster Grove, Md.

Vinton Freedley, New York City; Frederick Holdsworthy, Jr. Brookline; Thomas V. Healey, Worcester; Christian M. Lauritzen, Chicago, III.; Walter Ridder, New York City; Phillip Neal, Oak Park, III.; Herbert Scheinberg, New York City.

The Union Committee has already sponsored an address to Freshmen by Harvard's historian, Samuel E. Morison

'08, professor of History; on the history and traditions of the Yard.

It has also arranged to have Don Gahan's orchestra play for the first Freshman dance which will be held at the Union on Saturday evening, December 5.

Later on in the year the Committee will choose a group of men to form the Union Library Committee. This organization recommends books for the Union library. The Committee also sponsors the Freshman Debating Society and other social affairs of the Class