To the Editors of the Crimson:

I should like to commend the recent announcement of Tennis Coach Jack Barnaby and the HA.A. To an academic world still pondering the question of emphasized varsity competition versus informal athletics for the general student body, Coach Barnaby has rendered Harvard's reconsidered opinion. In a letter of "apology," it has been revealed that, due to the shortage of facilities, tennis courts are no longer available to students who are not members of the varsity tennis squad or Freshmen required to take physical education. Here is the bold and forthright answer to the University of Chicago's short-sighted de-emphasis of athletics that the rest of the nation's colleges have been looking for. At last a first-rate institution has spoken up in defense of intercollegiate competition--even at the expense of a general athletic program.

Although a mere score or so men are now--as varsity players--entitled to use the Harvard tennis facilities, Coach Barnaby has righteously justified his denial of courts to the other thousands of college men "because of the benefit of the intercollegiate program." The national publicity created by a winning team, the gate receipts from matches, the pride among alumni groups, all these are far more creditable to an institution of Harvard's stature than the awkward volleyings of a mob of ill-coordinated dubs every afternoon.

In conclusion, may I suggest the immediate establishment of a scholarship fund for Freshmen of outstanding athletic ability? Such a fund has been exceptionally rewarding to other universities long given to such policies as Harvard now practices H. M. Temple '47