To the Editor of the Crimson:

We, the undersigned graduate students in Harvard University, wish to testify to the scholarship and teaching ability of Assistant Professor Walter E. Houghton. Harvard's recent abolition of assistant professorships unfortunately involves the dismissal of a man whom we consider one of her finest teachers. His lectures give evidence of exhaustive research and of discriminating selection from a wide range of reading. His concise and carefully focused syntheses of material are characterized by an unusual aesthetic judgment and a fresh intellectual scrutiny. He possesses an extraordinary ability to effect a vital communication in the classroom. He is certainly outstanding among Harvard teachers for his interest in his students' ideas; and a feeling for the true intellectual fellowship which ought to prevail in a university is indicated by his availability and eagerness for friendly discussion outside of class.

In brief, we believe that Assistant Professor Houghton achieves to a most unusual degree a vital, working balance of good scholarship and good teaching.

(28 of Houghton's graduate students signed this petition.)--Ed.