Red Folders Abound This Weekend

About 900 prospective first-years--armed with distinctive red folders, temporary student IDs, meal passes and maps--began arriving yesterday to spend the weekend at Harvard.

The Undergraduate Admissions Office-sponsored "Special Welcome for the Class of 1999 " kicked off yesterday with registration at 8 a.m. in Byerly Hall. Organizers have planned a full schedule of events lasting until Monday.

The new arrivals' first impressions of the College varied. For several out-of-towners, just getting to Harvard was confusing.

"I drove by and missed [the College]," said New Yorker Alex R. Rovira.

"Then I got a parking ticket and took care of that. I walked back and got lost on the way to Byerly. I was just looking around, trying to figure out which way the map was facing," Rovira added.

Upon registration, the visitors were urged to call their families and report their safe arrival. Contacting their Harvard hosts was not so easy, however, as Andre K. Svimers of Georgia learned.

Svimers said his phone call was answered by an inarticulate room-mate, who had apparently been asleep.

"I don't remember what [he] said, if the host was going to pick me up here or if I was supposed to call back," said Svimers.

"But my friends and I are sitting here [in Byerly] drinking virgin lemonade, so it's o.k."

These problems aside, the weekend started smoothly, according to Undergraduate Admissions Council Co-chair Brian D. Saunders '96.

500 Harvard students signed up to house the prospective first-years, more than the minimum required, Saunders said.

Many volunteers said they were happy to offer the visitors an insiders' view of life at Harvard.

"I just thought it was a neat thing to do," said Matthew C. Stovcsik '98, who is hosting two students. "It's nice to give them another perspective instead of the [Crimson] Key tour."

Stovcsik said that one of his guests asked him about the John Harvard statue and its infamous three lies.

"Don't even ask," Stovcsik said he responded. "You don't even want to know."

Events planned for the Class of 1999 include two ice-cream bashes, an acapella jam, a reception with Linda S. Wilson, the president of Radcliffe College, and several panel discussions.

Other events are aimed specifically at minority students, as part of the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program. These include panel discussions and student receptions.

"We are trying to show diversity in all its aspects," Saunders said. "[This weekend] gives prospective students a chance to see the University for what it's truly like, not what it says in a book."

Lonne A. Jaffe of New York, who chose Harvard over a full scholarship to Duke University, said his first impressions were positive.

"I am amazed how much enthusiasm there is here," Jaffe said.

"The people I'm staying with are really generous and encouraging, " he added.

Not all prospective students, however, have made up their minds. Several said they will use this weekend to choose a college.

"I'm going to look at the class sizes, availability of professors, tone of the classes, and the non-academic aspects," said Vivek V. Wagle of Washington, D.C. Wagle is deciding between Harvard and Stanford.

According to Saunders, there is a higher yield of matriculation among students who attend the weekend program.

"I truly hope this weekend makes animpression," Saunders said. "I know when I'vehosted, and the students have decided to come,it's really satisfying.

"I truly hope this weekend makes animpression," Saunders said. "I know when I'vehosted, and the students have decided to come,it's really satisfying.