There was little for that company of happy men to be happy about however as the undermanned staff found publication a terrific struggle during the early days of the war. The suspension of the paper on May 27, 1943, had appeared inevitable for quite a while.
Before it quit the CRIMSON set up a Graduate Board to keep a watchful eye on its temporary successor the Harvard Service News. The substitute was a four-column, semi-weekly semi-literate sheet that was not allowed to express editorial opinion. Although it was circulated free to military personnel. civilians in the University wouldn't take the Service News on a bet.
Nevertheless. the militarized sheet did improve and as a connecting link between 1943 and the post-war Crime . it was well worth the money it lost in three years of publication.
Gradually, more and more Crimeds returned to the College ready to resurrect the paper. Finally, on April 9, 1946, the CRIMSON reappeared. A black flag hung from the bronze ibis atop the Lampoon building to make things official.
The revitalization was swift and sweeping. The CRIMSON'S pen was mightier than the Service News sheathed sword, and other departments of the paper sprang into action under the guidance of experienced veterans.
Among the accomplishments of the post-war board was the $16.000 building fund of 1946-47 which provided much needed repairs for the Plympton Street headquarters.
1948 marked the diamond anniversary of the publication that was no longer a diamond in the rough. President Conant said: "As a former editor of the paper. I send you hearty greetings on this memorable milestone. All who have had the privilege of seeing the University through the CRIMSON'S eyes have been especially privileged."
The next two years were a time of parody rivalries, full-page features and lightning extras. Although the CRIMSON has changed considerably in the post-war decade the transition of the paper has been graded. Sweeping changes did not occur possibly because of complacency, but undoubtedly because the immediate post-war formula has proved very successful.
Editorially the paper struck a balance between college and national topics and opinions were strongly expressed. In news coverage, the paper tended to become more judicious than the 1946-47 editions but a distinct crusading spirit remained.
The early fifties provided the most significant issue of the post-war decade. the Communist witch-hunts engendered by the late Senator McCarthy. The University found itself in the midst of the controversy and no one connected with Harvard voiced stronger support for academic freedom than did the CRIMSON. In 1949 the paper published the first of its annual extensive reports on academic freedom.
Reflecting an important change in the University, the CRIMSON accepted Radcliffe girls as full members of the paper in 1947. Although Cliffie representation on the staff has always been small, girls have held important posts.
The discovery by a Cliffie, the assistant managing editor, that the College had decided to issue diplomas in English rather than the traditional Latin led in the Spring of 1961 to the famous Latin Riots when more than 4000 chanting students proclaiming "Latin Si! Pusey No- " marched through the streets of Cambridge.
CRIMSON news stories in the Spring of 1962 first called attention to the research with consciousness-expanding drugs such as psilocybin by Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary. A University investigation of their work led to a restriction on their research. the University contending they did not exercise proper scientific caution. In Spring 1963 a CRIMSON extra announced that Alpert had been fired for viola?? agreement with the University not to give drugs to the undergraduates.
But during the past five years. the most important changes have been in the CRIMSON'S organization. In the early summer of 1965, the paper bought its own press and linotype equipment from the printing company next door, which had been doing the CRIMSON on a contract basis for decades. The purchase gave the CRIMSON much added flexibility. In February, 1964, it printed 104 pages: a year later under the new arrangement, it printed 142. The average paper became eight rather than six pages.
The CRIMSON'S new print shop, under the direction of Frank T. Rogan also acquired new equipment to make the operation more efficient. The biggest addition came in 1966 when two new presses-one for eight-page papers and one for single-sheet "extras" -were installed.
Other things at 14 Plympton Street have changed. Cliffies have moved into increasingly important positions on the paper: four years ago. Faye Levine 65 became the first Cliffie Executive Editor and three years ago Linda McVeigh 67 was named to the paper's second highest position, Managing Editor.
The CRIMSON of today bears little resemblance to the Magenta . A large business with a gross of almost $200.000 a year, it publishes a daily newspaper (six days a week and recently expanded to eight pages a day) with a readership of approximately 20.000. In addition, the organization issues several auxiliary annual publications such as a weekly eight-page supplement. The Confidential Guide to Courses. The Collegiate Guide to Greater Boston. The Harvard-Radcliffe Telephone Directory and The CRIMSON Photo Annual.
Undoubtedly a discreet policy would dictate keeping as much as possible of this sentimental mush from the public. but the CRIMSON was not proud about "earnestly requesting contributions" back in 1873, and it is doubtful that it will be humble about announcing in the years to come that it has managed to survive without them.