The original House Plan announcement was followed by subsequent ones during the fall of 1928, proclaiming enlargement of the $3,000,000 gift, approval of the plan by the faculty, and appointment of Messrs. Greenough and Coolidge as the first masters. When a Student Council committee headed by James DeNormandie and Arthur E. French came forward with a plan that would form a New Yard for the Houses on the land surrounded by Boylston, Mt. Auburn, and DeWolfe Sts., the Lampoon rebelled.

The result was the magazine's "Revolt of the Masses" number roundly attacking the House Plan. The attack was so strong that Lampy's graduate trustees threatened to resign unless the editors personally apologized to Edward S. Harkness, donor of the Houses. But President Alan R. Blackburn, speaking for the Bow St. aviary, made it clear he planned no retraction.

"In two days," his statement ran, "the Lampoon has precipitated morke frank and reasonable comment than months of CRIMSON editorials and whisperings in the parlor have done. Unfortunately, to the rest of the country, Lampy's attack has been branded as a personal ridicule of Mr. Harkness...." Then he went on to protest Lampy's serious intent.... But all the undergraduate criticism made little difference, as the administration began to plan the initial steps of construction that was to lead the House system of today.

On the athletic scene, the football team's victory over Yale provided remission from a disappointing athletic year in which a double loss to Yale in baseball was more typical.

The '27 football season proved its worth as a training ground for '28. Despite the gridiron loss to Yale, French had shown himself a fast and deceptive halfback under Coach Horween's double wings attack, and had been named captain for the coming season. John Tudor climaxed a brilliant season at left wing by being elected captain of the 1928-29 hockey team. Forrester Clark was elected leader of the crew. In the winter and spring of '28 J. L. Reid was already showing the outstanding long distance form that was to bring him the '29 track captaincy. R. B. Whitbeck was the Class' only junior captain, of the tennis team, which he led again the following spring.

Socially, the junior year was climaxed by the annual prom in Mem Hall. The Junior Dance Committee, amid waning interest, staged the last of many dances to be held in the building. The Committee, composed of R. A. Stout, A. T. Hartwell, F. B. Grant, J. H. Sachs, James Lawrence, chairman Sweezy, and treasurer James deNormandie, sat daily in the Lampoon building waiting for members of the Class of '29, who might have been overlooked, to report for assignment to one of the boxes surrounding the dance floor. But with only ten days remaining until the March 2 date, the committee still needed 100 couples. Bert Lowe's orchestra blared mightily, but much of the Class failed to turn out. The lack of enthusiasm was sufficient to arouse the next junior class (1930) to rise up in revolt against the dreary confines of Memorial Hall and stage its dance in the Union.

80,000 in Stadium?

The trend toward increased emphasis on Harvard football during the junior year was dramaticized by the plea of athletic director William J. Bingham for a stadium capable of housing 80,000 spectators. Throughout the spring term the argument raged back and forth, as the Corporation postponed final decision. Finally, on June 1, the governing body voted to replace the condemned wooden stands with concrete seats. But the following fall permanent concrete stands were found to be too expensive and permanent steel stands were constructed to enclose the open end of the stadium.

The spring of 1928 marked the beginning of one of the most unique contests in the history of the College. Mrs. William L. Putnam had given $125,000 to the University so that Harvard could carry on scholastic contests with other institutions. One member of the Class of '29, L. James Rittenband of Brooklyn, N.Y., was included on the first team picked to represent the College against Yale. Also on the team was a senior from Council Bluffs, Ia., named Nathan Marsh Pusey. After the special examination papers had been marked by outside professors, it was announced the College had decisively topped Yale. Rittenband was fifth behind two Harvard and two Yale students. First in the contest was the young senior from Council Bluffs, Ia.

On the athletic fields in the spring of 1928, many of the men who were to shine a year after as seniors were making themselves known. On the outstanding ball team, Howard Whitmore pitched sparsely but effectively, while G. E. Donaghy and John Prior established themselves as leading batsmen. Twelve members of '29 received track letters, the most outstanding of these being captain-elect Reid, who captured the two mile run in the IC4A championships at the Stadium. Other '29 trackmen were A. E. French, R. G. Luttman, and G. A. Tupper.

The University crew at Red Top was stroked by a junior, John Watts, with other '29crs at how, number three, number six, and number seven. These were J. DeW. Hubbard, W. T. Emmet, captain-elect F. A. Clark, and Guy Murchio. Allerton Cushman, B. J. Harrison, and C. MeK, Norton were on the second boat, while James deNormandie, F. E. Farnsworth, F. B. Lee, and J. A. Swords pulled on the first 150 pound crew.

In non-athletic events, the Pudding Show "Not Now Later," with J. W. Valentine in the lead as demuro Faith Mather, received rave reviews during its extended tour. Others in the cast were T. S. Kennan, J. R. Bird, B. W. Stevens, J. O. Ross, F. L. Spalding, and G. P. Davis. R. M. Whittemore helped complete the lyrics. For the H.D.C.'s spring production of "Hassan" F. L. Anderson did the score, while H. R. Thayer acted in the lead.

On June 7, 1928, junior ushers to assist head usher Arthur E. French were announced. They were: Winslow Carlton, James David Guarnaccia, Thomas G. Moore, Edward W. Sexton, Richard A. Stout, John Tudor, and William S. Young-man.

1929 saw all those men assume leading roles.

The early season worries that surrounded football practices n Soldiers Field proved to be only those of a talented and powerful team rounding itself into shape. The team's inability to cope with a passing attack was the only weakness that plagued it seriously throughout the season. Coach Horween and his staff scanned ranks of candidates for the two end positions (among them F. A. Pickard, S. C. Burns, and Prior) to find someone capable of checking the potent pass-catchers the team would face in the coming season.