Students Plan 'Group-Oriented' Games To Ease Freshman Week Adjustment

Ten upperclassmen are planning an afternoon of "group-oriented" games for Freshman Week designed to help the entering class become better acquainted with each other and the Harvard campus.

Juan Enriquez '81, chief coordinator of the project, called "The Event," said yesterday the goal of the voluntary program is to "foster an atmosphere of cooperation and sharing that will hopefully be carried on beyond Orientation Week."

Henry C. Moses, dean of freshmen, said yesterday he will approve the program if it is "well-conceived, fits into the Freshman Week schedule, and if the freshman proctors support it."

"I think it's a good way for freshmen to get to know one another," he said, adding he thinks the project will help freshmen meet upperclassmen and also help the new students become familiar with the campus.

Enriquez said "The Event" will sponsor about 20 games. One game involves two blindfolded people building a clay sculpture of an animal without speaking to each other, and another requires one person to fall off a five foot wall backwards into other group members' arms.

Enriquez said "The Event" will help people become acquainted with Harvard through playing games at different locations across campus. Specially-trained upperclassmen, freshman proctors and senior faculty will serve as leaders for the groups.

Ethan M. Cruvant '80, another coordinator of the project, said yesterday the coordinators will limit "The Event" to 300 freshmen because it is a trial program and there might be a shortage of leaders. "We have to build from something. This first year will be a test," he said.

Enriquez ran a similar project at Andover and approached Moses with the idea for the project about three weeks ago.

Enriquez said more people will participate in "The Event" than in the wilderness trip the Freshman Dean's Office (FDO) is planning for 50 people the week before Freshmen Week. The FDO will send letters explaining the wilderness program with April 15 letters of acceptance from the admissions committee, Moses said.

Upperclassmen on the freshmen dean's informal advisory committee reacted favorably to "The Event." "I think it's a really good idea." Eugene A. Matthews '80, a committee member, said yesterday. "It also might be popular with upperclassmen," he added.