The Quad Athletic Center opened for freshmen last week depite protest last year from some students that the Facility be restricted to Quad residents.

The Center's management committee originally restricted use of the facility because opening it to freshmen would discriminate against students living in the River Houses. Thomas A. Dingman '67, associate dean of the College for the House System and chairman of the committee, said yesterday.

Concern about crowding and use of equipment also prompted the committee to allow only Quad residents and their guests to use the center, Dingman said.

But the committee last month reversed its original decision after a study of the center revealed the overcrowding to be insignificant.

"At this point we wanted to open the facility to others and the freshmen were the logical choice," Dingman added.

"I feel strongly that freshmen should interact with upperclassmen," President Horner said yesterday, adding that Radcliffe dormitories originally housed all four classes together.

Radcliffe had originally intended to make the facility available to freshmen also, Aida K. Press, editor of Radcliffe Quarterly, said yesterday.

William A. Titus '81, athletic secretary of Currier House, yesterday noted that freshmen don't have their own facilities and that granting freshmen access to the gym would make them "more likely to choose the Quad or at least less despondent about being sent here."

The policy change--which went into effect March 9--has not been well-publicized yet and so far there have been no complaints from River House residents, Titus said.