In a front-page commentary on September 30, 1946, the boys of The Harvard Crimson complained that tall ex-servicemen slept in their beds, littered the Coop with G.I. Bill reimbursement slips and stole away the Radcliffe girls.

It was a bad year for old boys.

After the war years' attrition, enrollment exploded with veterans and students from outside New England's preparatory schools, straining facilities and faculty. The thousands of ex-servicemen hoping to move from Europe's barracks to Harvard's Houses found them full. Overcrowded dorms and makeshift shelters gave the class a home while overburdened professors and untried teaching fellows gave instruction.

Making first-rate marks despite the trials of a congested Harvard, veteran and public school students proved the value of diversity to admissions officers.

And the very identity of a Harvard man transformed as the G.I. Bill brought duffels among the tweeds, and scholarships brought the West east.

The fall days of 1946 found old Harvard besieged by veterans and scholarship students, the new guard of the Ivory Tower. More large, diverse, and serious than any previous class, the Class of 1950 brought Harvard from New England to the nation.

Growing Pains

America was crowded with veterans returning from World War II, and when Harvard opened its gates to them, the Yard became a beachhead.

Financed by the G.I. Bill of Rights and admitted through special College entrance exams for veterans, ex-servicemen swelled the Class of 1950 to 1,645 members, more than double the past year's size.

President James B. Conant '14 explained the University's relaxed requirements for veteran admissions.

"We must make up the devastating shortage of trained men for civilian occupations resulting from many years of war," he said.

And in its zeal to catch up, Harvard discovered its own devastating shortages.

It was the largest class in Harvard's history with 1,645 members and more than half--896--were veterans. The College had dwindled during the war years, and simply could not handle the influx.

In preparations over the summer for the many married veterans who would attend in fall of 1946, Harvard bought and renovated the Hotel Brunswick in Copley Square and a hospital complex in Ayer.

With only weeks left before registration, the University began to receive applications for housing and discovered they there were almost 900 spaces short.

All students within 45 minute traveling time were immediately forced to commute and denied housing.