Freshman Class Arrives; 1613 To Register Today

Braving 97-degree temperatures, most of the Class of '87 thronged yesterday to Tercentenary Theater to hear Harvard administrators deliver their traditional words of welcome and metaphors of inspiration.

The 1613 freshmen, who will register today, boast the lowest male female ratio Harvard's history, 1.34 to one. The ratio has dropped steadily for several years.

Subdued and attentive, the class delayed living up to the initial description provided by Henry C. Moses, dean of freshmen, who dubbed his audience, "the rebellious class."

"What's so splendid about you is that you bristle with skepticism," he said praising the students for the new life they will bring into the community by "simply being a freshman."

President Bok, who spoke next, cautioned freshmen and their parents against being too concerned with careers and achievement. He urged students to involve themselves instead in extracurricular activities, citing statistics that the most successful Harvard students are those who participate in activities, rather than those who do nothing but study. "In this respect: Harvard is one of the few places where you can have your cake and eat it too," he added.

Even for those who want to pursue traditional professions. Bok stressed the importance of looking for new or unusual challenges. Lawyers and businessmen for example, should strive to improve relations with the government and with foreign countries and tackle social issues, he said.

President Horner echoed Bok, nothing that there are more career options than "doctor lawyer, or failure." Horner concluded her remarks with her traditional warning against mayonnaise malaise--. "Keep cool but do not freeze."

Dean of the Faculty Henry Rosovsky, wrapping up the ceremonies for his last time as dean, jubilantly told the class that he looks forward to being able to watch the U.S. Open next year instead Rosovsky, who will step down from the deanship this June, apologized for appearing in shirtsleeves, but explained. "As Dean of the Faculty, I represent rationality, and this is a rational response" to the record breaking heal.

Rosovsky offered his list of qualities that make Harvard special its history, its Faculty, its Core Curriculum and the fact that "an invitation to Harvard is not determined by economic status."

Mixed Bag

All the speakers praised the class for its diversity, a description backed up by Admissions Office figures. The class of 1613 students includes 100 Blacks 162 Asians 65 Hispanics and five Native Americans as well as 40 foreign students.

More than 20 percent of the 2294 applicants accepted last year chose to come to Harvard, according to Admissions Office figures.

But despite the high overall yield, the yield among Black students lags at only 53 percent, the third year of a downward trend. While admissions officers have increased recruiting in the past several years, they say financial problems play a large part in the lower yield among Blacks.

Forty-three percent of the class will receive a total of $4,223,600 in scholarships, an increase of 3 percent over the class of 1986. The average scholarship award is $6085.

The greatest percentage of students come from New England (29.6 percent) and the Middle Atlantic regions (24.2 percent). The South continues to be the least represented region, comprising only 9.9 percent of the class. The proportion of Southerners who is accepted Harvard's offer of admission--59.8 percent was the lowest of any region.

But Sara Miller `87; native of Jackson Miss said yesterday that she has none of the qualms that may have kept other Southerners away. In her first 24 hours in the Yard she said Harvard has proved "fun impressive and inspiring."