Charity Drive Starts Today In University

More then 200 volunteers will start their door-to-door solicitation tonight for this year's Combined Charities Drive David M. Dorsen '56, co-chairman of the Drive, said yesterday.

Canvassing will continue for five consecutive nights throughtout the College and those graduate schools located in Cambridge. In addition, commuters will receive requests for funds in the mail today. Dorsen emphasized that the Drive will have to receive a "very large percentage of mail returns" if it is going to reach its goal of $25,000.

Pre-Dated Checks Approved

To supplement the pledge system, students may for the first time make their contributions this year with future-dated checks. Under this system, Dorsen explained, students who have no money at present may write out checks dated a month or two in advance.

Regular checks and cash will also be accepted by the solicitors. Pledges can only be made by undergraduates, and those will be collected shortly after spring vacation. Both undergraduates and graduate students, however, will encouraged to use future-dated checks, Dorsen said, since they do not entail second visits by the solicitors.

Donors May Specify Charities

Aside from the six recommended charities printed on the solicitation card, contributors may also write in other charities. They can allocate their money among these in whatever percentage they wish.

Four of this year's six recommended charities also appeared on last year's list. They are: Phillips Brooks House Association, World University Service, American Friends Service Committee, and National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students. The other two charities, Red Feather and Salzburg Seminar, have both appeared on the card in previous years.

Last year the College contributed $12,000 to Combined Charities, while the separate graduate school drives collected an additional $5,000.