Crimson Key Society Begins Fifth Year A College Co-ordinator, Envoy of Good-Will

A Siamese prince, a Brazilian radio commentator, "April in Paris," a ship-to-shore crew broadcast, and 2,900 athletes, dignitaries, and freshmen--this potpourri can be thrown together and considered as one because of the unofficial hosts of Harvard College, the Crimson Key Society.

Yesterday, the Society, soon to begin its fifth year as College welcoming committee and unofficial guide, opened its annual competition to freshman and sophomores. The basis of acceptance: hard work and sincere interest in the group. The duration of the competition: until the All-College weekend, scheduled for May 10. Those men accepted in May become "permanent" members, the core and working part of the Key.

Only four years ago, Dean Bender was able to characterize Harvard hospitality as "bordering on rudeness." No Orange or Green Key Society like those at Princeton and Dartmouth existed here. But, early in 1948, four men drew up a constitution for a "proposed society of hosts," to be called "the Crimson Key Society."

Officials at the College welcomed the move as long overdue. The constitutions proposed a group equally divided between "permanent" and "representative" members. The former are chosen on a competitive basis; the latter represent the numerous extracurricular organs at the College.

The Student Council thought this division would prevent the group from developing into a social club, and accepted the constitution.

In the early Spring of 1948, the new-born Crimson Key Society set up shop. Since then, it has steadily grown, expanded its activities, assumed a more vital role at the College.

Charles E. Nelson '52, outgoing president of the group, divides the Society's many activities into two basic groups: student host for the University, and coordinator of College activities.

Under the category of local "welcome mat" Nelson includes freshman orientation, guide to visiting dignitaries, welcoming committee for athletic squads, and contact for prospective freshmen.

This year, according to Allen G. Barry '53, newly-elected president, the Key has welcomed every athletic team that has visited the College-950 men, covering the entire range from football to squash.

All-Embracing

The Society's welcome embraces even debating teams, with beds provided at the Houses. Some Key members recall that in 1948 the University of Pennsylvania disrupted their plans by bringing a female debater, but some violent last-minute activity secured a bed for the lady at Radcliffe.

She was favorably impressed with the local institutions of learning, and remained at Radcliffe for a week. While she was staying at the Annex, a McGill University debating team arrived to meet Harvard, and the young lady struck up a purely professional acquaintance with one of the Canadian orators. When last heard of she was on the way to Montreal for a long weekend.

The Key annually plays host to dozens of visiting dignitaries, conducting them on the standard tour: Houghton Library, Mark IV, and the Glass Flowers. These dignitaries have included the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, a Brazilian radio commentator, and a Siamese prince who was so "impressed that the offered us a five-dollar tip." Members of the group cannot accept tips.

Recruiting

One of the Key's major functions is the newly-organized Schools Committee, created in December, 1950. During their vacations, some 50 undergraduates work with the Harvard Clubs in their home towns, canvassing and recruiting prospective freshmen. The Society felt that Harvard was missing a great number of excellent students, probably because myths created about the College have inclined them to shy away.

Although the College is still far behind Ivy League schools like Princeton and Yale in "selling" itself to high school men, Nelson that the Key has made no progress.

Some of the Society's most important work falls under the second category outlined by Nelson--co-ordination of College active. This year efforts in this field range from showing football movies to sponsoring a Brown Dance which packed the Kirkland House Junior Common Room and overflowed the Dining Hall.

Crew Accounts

One of the Society's first accomplishments-- a ship-to-shore broadcast of the Eastern Sprints regatta in 1948--has now been extended to all crew races. The equipment, however, is somewhat modernized: while four years the Society made the broadcast a walkie-talkie set-up, this Spring Nelson says that the Wireless Club plans to loan its equipment.

In May, the Key will stage third annual All-College Weekend, an effort to unite all four College classes an an immense extravaganza. The first dance, attended by 800 couples, had Charlie Spivak and "Orchids in Moonlight." Last year, there was Elliot Lawrence "April in Paris." The theme for the '52 affair has not yet been set.

Just a few months ago, they assumed still another burden--the printing of an activities calendar.

The job handled by the Crimson Key Society is a large one. It has at once attempted to carry the tasks of University host and College coordinator. Much of the job involves thankless, burdensome minutae, performed by the real nerve center of the Crimson Key, the permanent members. If the Key has done its work well, the tribute should devolve upon these men.