"Don't be apathetic--be athletic!" comes the plaintive cry from the Radcliffe Athletic Association in a desperate attempt to combat the inertia of the average 'Cliffedweller.

Radcliffe's attitude toward sports has been a source of alarm and depression to Harriet L. Clarke, director of physical education at the 'Cliffe, ever since she stopped teaching gym at Wellesley in '42. "It's a real crusade to scrape up enough people for a playday with another college," she said despondently, "and last year we had to cancel a swimming meet and a basketball game since so few girls have the incentive to get out there and fight for Radcliffe!"

It's not the lack of skill that worries Miss Clarke, it's the lack of spirit, "Out at Wellesley," she sighed nostalgically, "they have REAL teams. . . ." She smiled as she cited an example of true sportswomanship. It was a cold, rainy day out at Wellesley last winter, but there were 63 female rowers at their oars on the Wellesley pond. "You'd never find such a turnout at Radcliffe," she reflected sadly, "but then, Boston and its many cultural advantages aren't so close. . . ."

Miss Clarke prefers to recall earlier athletic days when attitudes were not so sedentary at the 'Cliffe. During World War II, emphasis on physical fitness boosted the gym requirement to two years, with an accompanying upsurge of athletic proficiency and spirit. Girls even had to take the "step test." (Then too, the shortage of men during the war years may have contributed to the sudden revival of outdoor interests.)

Bowling, Archery Popular

Today, however, bowling and archery are Radcliffe fortes. The 'Cliffe sophomore who flunked her gym requirement, and almost a third of each year's sophomore class is in this category, prefers such activities. The prime consideration in this choice is that neither sport requires a change of clothes or undue physical exertion.

Miss Clarke's favorites are the 100 members of the 'Cliffe Athletic Association. This ten percent of the student body is not discouraged by the $1.50 A.A. dues or smokers' hack. "These," she professes glumly, "are far too few." Runner-up for Miss Clarke's approval are her beginning classes of freshmen.

"Those girls really appreciate learning something new," she said, beaming. "But they usually become hardened after a year--I guess they find other interests." Miss Clarke has suggested extending the gym requirement, but to no avail. She is now resigned to the fact that "Radcliffe does what Harvard does--regardless!"

The hardest blow to physical education came two years ago, in the spring. On the last day of sports, a promising freshman thwarted Miss Clarke's expectations as a gym teacher. This budding young athlete, overjoyed at finishing her requirement, flung away her bow, broke six arrows, shot the remainder in the direction of a nearby Cambridge urchin, and ran gleefully off the Quad, screaming, "I'm never going to do anything athletic again--EVER!"