To the editors:
I would like to present to members of the Class of '98 the same suggestion I have made to recent classes about what to do at Commencement about "Fair Harvard," which speaks only of "thy son" when half of those graduating are daughters.
Of the very many suggestions that have been put forth, the one that is simple, uncomplicated and practical, is for graduating women and their families and guests to substitute "daughters in" for "sons to thy," while graduating men and their families and guests sing the song as originally written.
"Fair Harvard, the daughters in jubilee throng." The two versions are sung simultaneously. The divergence of three syllables takes no more than two seconds, beat and meter match perfectly, and the song goes on. The two versions unite like a marriage, not jarring the ears like the dozens of the suggestions.
If this makes sense to you, just do it. year by year more and more hear of it, and with more and more doing it, it will gradually become established custom. It makes fair Harvard fair. Otherwise it would be Unfair Harvard. MYRON S. KAUFMANN '43 April 1998
The writer was member of the 70th Editorial Board of The Crimson.
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An Inevitable Turnover
