Wheel of Fortune Seeks Harvard Players

Six quick-witted unflappable Harvard students will get their chance this spring to hear Vanna speak--in person.

The lucky six will test their word-playing skills next month in front of more than 40 million people on Wheel of Fortune in the show's ninth annual college tournament.

The program, which features host Pat Sajak and letter-turner and author, Vanna White, is coming to Cambridge March 17 to recruit a Harvard team to compete in the special tournament this April.

Contestant coordinator Hary Selsby will choose four team members and two alternates from Harvard, who will compete against teams from the University of Pennsylvania, Southern Methodist University and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

But the show's recruiters will have to conduct their trials at the Hasty Pudding Club without Harvard's blessing, after Dean of the College Archie C. Epps III denied them permission to recruit on campus.

"I was reluctant to let them recruit using college buildings. [Wheel of Fortune] is not the sort of thing we would normally associate with. It's a commercial operation," Epps said yesterday.

Wheel of Fortune tried three years ago to get Harvard in the college tournament, but was also denied permission by the administration, Epps said.

This time, Epps suggested to Selsby that he try the Hasty Pudding Club, since the show "is of entertainment value," he said.

Wheel of Fortune staffers say the program is looking for outgoing students who won't crack under pressure. "We want people who are fun to watch. Whether they win or lose, they've got to look like they're having a good time," Selsby said. He added that a contestant must also be able to "make logical choices when the pressure is on. The game sounds fairly simple, but it's much more difficult playing in front of a real camera and with real money."

The selection process will consist of a five-minute test and a mock version of the Wheel of Fortune complete with a portable mini-wheel. Selsby stressed that it is not necessarily those who perform the best in the practice game, but those who are the most "personable," who will be chosen for the show.

Spenser for Hire

Epps said that although the university receives many requests, few television or movie shows are allowed to film or recruit on campus.

The prime time ABC-TV show, Spenser for Hire, has been given permission totape episodes at Harvard in the past, however,"That's a program with taste," Epps said of theshow which stars Robert Urich as a privateinvestigator with a strong right hook.

Epps declined to predict the winner of thecollegiate tournament, adding, "I am skepticalabout the educational value of this. Nonetheless,I hope Harvard wins."

Students will have to pay their transportationand lodging costs for the taping of wheel ofFortune on April 9-10 in Burbank, California. Thetournament will air during the last week of May,Selsby said.

Team members will share any prizes won in theinitial round of competition, which will eliminateone team. The remaining three teams will then eachselect one member to compete in the final round.Any prizes won in this round will be donated tothe student's school. In Harvard's case, the moneywill be donated to the Hasty Pudding Club, whichis sponsoring the event