Harvard from Within

Traditionally critical of the rest of the world, Harvard men occasionally scrutinize Harvard, say sharp things about themselves and their traditions.* Weightier than most critiques during the year is the senior oration at Class Day exercises. Excerpts from last week's oration by Senior Orator Edward Mortimer Morris Warburg:

"Through Harvard's sudden growth in size it has scarcely been possible to reorganize fast enough to keep its educational system up with the needs of the undergraduates. For example, in its attempt to keep up its prestige as far as other colleges and the outside world are concerned, Harvard finds itself lamentably lacking in teachers and rather overloaded with authorities.

"The type of teacher, rather than lecturer, as exemplified in Harvard's own tradition by such men as Agassiz, Norton and Wendell has been lost in the present large system. The time of stimulating discussions between student and professor in the classroom is a thing of the past.

*A Harvard tradition which passed last week was Beck Hall, oldtime privately owned dormitory, which was sold. Among its onetime inmates: Theodore Roosevelt, John Pierpont Morgan, John Jacob Astor, James Alexander Stillman. Perennial Cambridge springtime fiesta was the "Beck Hall Spread." In more recent years the building was cared for by a onetime barkeep, famed for his preparation of whiskey sours.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.