Ivy Presidents Back Langer

The presidents of the colleges in the Ivy League did a very good thing this week-they issued a statement saying that they support Yale in its decision to use basketball player Jack Langer despite the NCAA ruling that he is ineligible. The NCAA and ECAC have threatened to punish Yale for its violation of one of their sacred rulings, but the Ivy endorsement may encourage them to reconsider or, at any rate be less severe than they originally intended.

The NCAA decided to make Langer ineligible because he participated in last summer's Maccabiah Games, a Jewish version of the Olympics. Until this past year, the NCAA had sanctioned these events but in another power struggle with the AAU. had withdrawn its sanction. Yale and Langer were warned in advance to stay away, but ignored the advice.

The use of Langer in this Winter's games bes earned much publicity, most of it unfavorable for the NCAA. Officials of this organization probably never anticipated such developments, especially since a player as unsensational as Languor was involved. But as a result of their attempt to exert power, they may have lost more than they had hoped to gain. The Ivy colleges have unanimously declared themselves to be against the NCAA stand, and such open defiance doesn't do much to forward the athletic agency's attempts at authority.

Langer's Statisties

For Langer's fans, here are his statistics: he is averaging 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a center who alternates with John Whiston. Langer's 48.5 shooting percentage from the floor is, however, tops on the team.

So now, the ECAC will go into next Tuesday's special meeting in Washington knowing that if it goes so far as to expel Yale from membership in the conference, the other Ivy colleges might very well leave the ECAC too. The NCAA will consider action this weekend. These two organizations must decide whether or not to flex their mussels again, and perhaps include further defiance, or to back off a bit and forget it ever happened. They will probably take some minor action aimed at conciliation.

Individuals

The Ivy statement seems mostly to recognize athletes growing desire to be independent. Besides supporting Yale and recommending that the NCAA endorse a proposal that would open all Mac?ab?ah Game sports to college athletes, the eight presidents partially litter their ban on post-season competition for individual athletes. If a senior has completed the regular season in his sport, and receives an invitation to appear in an all-star game, be may accept, provided that participants are not paid for their services.

Meanwhile. in New Haven, Langer quietly plays basketball and studies economics. In an interview with a New York Times reporter, he said. "I never became politically involved in anything but this is enough to make one think about bucking that thing called the Establishment."