HARVARD AND HER PUBLIC

Beneath the latest Red scares about Granville Hicks, the Cambridge schoolchildren and the Young Communists lies a serious defect in the University Administration. Harvard tends to be so sure that what it is doing is right that it ignores the publicity angle of its actions and allows itself to be grievously misrepresented. The result of such a policy is to seen in this week's papers, with all the politicians and patriots in full cry after the Red menace, and all sorts of organizations passing resolutions against the college. It cannot be denied that in Massachusetts at present there is a certain lack of trust in Harvard among many people, a misunderstanding of her policies, and a faithlessness in her principles of freedom of thought. Such a condition is the result of past errors in public relations, and it can hardly be allowed to continue without danger of laws more restrictive than the Teachers' Oath.

There is no question of the University triming its said to suit the local winds, but rather it must be more careful in convincing the public that what it is doing is right. In the first place more attention must be paid the public appearances of the undergraduates. For example, if the college were more careful about student testimony in the legislature, that body would not have its present inflated idea of the number of communists in the college. In addition to preventing such stupidly false publicity, the University must spread its own principles and beliefs with more vigor than in the past. It is good that the college believes in freedom of teaching, but it is very good that the public, which has the power of suppressing the college, has the same belief. The extension courses, which bring the faculty into contact with a large body of the public, are a step in the right direction.

Well publicized faculty help to the state government might be valuable. At any rate Harvard has a clear cut problem of selling itself and its theories to the public. Whatever the means, the result should be such that whenever in the future a demagogue sees red attacks Harvard, his remarks will arouse laughter in Harvard and in the fraternal and patriotic organization as well.