[This concludes a two-part series on club athletics.]

While expressing sympathy for the plight of Harvard sports clubs. Athletic Director Robert B. Watson '37 says "a very critical financial bind" prevents him from offering clubs help in meeting their expenses.

"I just don't have the money to pass around," Watson said in an interview last week. "I'm in a hopeless position."

"The Faculty orders budget cuts, students demand more money for athletics and the facilities are going to pot," he said. "You can't win."

Lack of Support

Several coaches, captains and players from among Harvard's 32 sports clubs said recently that they face serious financial difficulties largely due to a lack of Athletic Department support.

The department confronted what Watson called a tight money situation in September when the Faculty cut the athletic budget by $25,000 from a $2.7 million appropriation.

Watson said the Faculty expects him to make a $100,000 cut in next year's budget.

The costs of repairing the bubble over the indoor track, which suffered extensive damage in January, and improving the IAB and Watson Rink will "without a doubt" take money away from varsity sports, Radcliffe sports and other department activities. Watson said.

"At this point, I'm faced with the task of possibly demoting some teams," he said.

"As for promoting sports clubs to varsity status, we can't take on such a big financial responsibility."

Watson said that in his more than 28 years with the University, "the policy has always been to leave the clubs entirely on their own."

He likened sports clubs such as water polo and rugby to the Harvard Lampoon and The Crimson. "These are all student-run and self-sufficient organizations," he said.

Struggle to Pay

The sports clubs--such as gymnastics, basketball and riflery--must struggle to pay for their own equipment, tournament fees and travel expenses. This hampers recruitment and team performance in intercollegiate competition.