An important purpose of the new Harvard Student Agencies, Inc. is to prevent students from gaining "a false impression of the business world," Dustin M. Burke '52 director of Student Employment, told the Student Council last night.
The Council had invited Burke and Gregory B. Stone '58, president of the HSA, to answer questions on the new combine. Many members wished to know why the University had suddenly decided to clamp down on the solicitors who, in using their rooms, were endangering the University's tax-exempt status, and who were operating without adequate insurance.
Burke replied that these methods gave students a "false impression" of real business methods, and that "they may not be able to do this forever." The combine also protects students salesmen from doing "illegitimate business." The former system, he said, was "illegal."
Council members were also interested to know "what does someone have to gain as a director of HSA, Inc?" Burke replied, "I'm not sure a person should have anything to gain as a director," but Stone countered, "You're quite right; we do get something out of it. There's a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride. There's no graft, we get no salary."
Question of Ten Per Cent
Question also arose regarding the purpose of the ten per cent tax on profits of member agencies belonging to the corporation. The tax was intended for expenses of the corporation, but Burke claimed that so far there had been no capital expenditure," and that the desks, furniture and answering service being used so far by the combine have been "borrowed."
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