To the Editors of the Crimson:

For one who was formerly employed in the Houses as a student waiter, the recent pay raise granted the regular personnel of the College Dining Halls is an appropriate occasion for questioning the policy of the University toward Harvard students working in the same jobs. The unhandy hours and limitations upon extra-curricular activity that these jobs impose make them trying enough, but college men employed as student waiters also find that in most wage matters the University discriminates against them in favor of the high school students with whom they work. Specifically, the high school students receive the regular hourly rate and free meals: Harvard men are paid slightly better wages--or were before the new contract was signed--but each week are billed $11.50 for board.

Since most of these students held scholarships, they must make much-better-than-average grades and, at the same time, work for board. Were these same students so fortunate as to attend Rindge Tech, they could earn the equivalent in twelve hours--and have eight more to devote to their all-important studies.

This crippling of those who most need to work is hardly consistent with the generous scholarship policy of the University, and certainly unnecessary if the same work merits the same pay. The present practice makes lower wages the penalty of having to work to stay in college. This is singularly unjust treatment of a group of students most of whom have demonstrated by their willingness to earn their way a real desire to attend Harvard.

But the new contract makes no mention of these students. Could not some provision be made for them? David B. Evans '50