The Army generally requires that a unit commission 25 cadets a year in order to justify its existence, but it occasionally is more lenient to Harvard since it is one of the oldest and most prestigious units. Last year 24 cadets were commissioned and four were disenrolled.

Pell stated last week that the ROTC academic grading precisely follows the system of Harvard College. "The academic grade of D is unsatisfactory but passing, and so reported to the College," he said.

Pell added that "for purposes of commissioning, however, the cadet who receives an unsatisfactory grade (below 70) is in doubtful status. His acceptability for commission would be contingent upon demonstrated and estimated leadership potential and officer qualities."

Formal evaluations by faculty, class advisors, and cadet leaders are also considered when commissioning a cadet, said Pell. "Consideration is given to the student's attitude toward the program as demonstrated by his appearance, military bearing, attendance at classes and participation in important events normal to an ROTC unit (both formal and informal), and similar personal qualities."

Pell felt that the four students, although they all showed improvement in the second semester last year and were not necessarily the lowest academically, did not qualify on character grounds.

Dean Glimp, who has discussed the matter with Pell recently, did not feel he knew enough specifics to comment on the ROTC action in June. But John U. Monro, then Dean of the College, said yesterday that he was satisfied that Pell and his staff had the responsibility and authority to make the officer-candidacy decision and had strictly followed the Army procedure.

"In two or three cases my judgment differed from Pell's, and both John F. Finley and I tried to change his judgment; in the end, however, there was nothing more we could do, and Pell's decision was final," Monro said.

Monro added that it is inevitable that the decision-making process will be looked at, and ought to be. The military should make the decision on commissioning its own officers; on the other hand, a military group by operating at a place like Harvard is obligated to bring itself out in the open.