Beginning at 12 noon today, the Harvard Union, which has been closed to civilians since the spring of 1942, will see emergency service as a dining hall for graduate students in the School of Arts and Sciences, Dean Paul H. Buck announced last night.

The new move, described by Dean Buck as "temporary," is the University's attempt to alleviate the difficult problem of dining for graduate students. "This venture is frankly an experimental one," he declared. "If the patronage is not sufficient to justify keeping the Union open, we will have to abandon the scheme." Furthermore since plans have already been made to return the Union in the fall of 1946 to its pre-war status as center of Freshman activities, the University will not be able to continue this service beyond the spring term, Dean Buck declared.

Busy School Not Included

Invitations to share in the use of the Union have also been extended to students in other graduate schools on the Cambridge side of the river, Dean Buck revealed. Acting through their deans, he has urged all graduate students to take advantage of this offer.

With the return of the Union to civilian use, the University covers another forward step in its program of reconversion. Formerly the exclusive center of all Yardling activities, the building was surrendered in June 1942 to the Naval Communications School, which moved 800 students into the Union and the Yard at that time. The closing of the Navy School, however, has again made these facilities available to the College.

Operating on the same basis as the undergraduate dining halls, the Union will serve meals at a flat rate of $9.50 per week, with the usual ticket rate of 40 cents for breakfast, 60 cents for luncheon, and 80 cents for dinner.