ABC Broadcasts From the Yard

The staff of Good Morning America turned Harvard Yard into a open-air studio yesterday morning, making television personalities out of a handful of under graduate and administrators.

The morning talk show aired live from Tercentenary Theater from 7 to 9 a.m. in front of an seated audience of 250, most of whom were students, and hundreds more standing in the Yard.

After the show, one of the two hosts and a top ABC official said they were pleased with the results and that they were surprised by the absence of protesters.

"we thought it would be a more activist audience with placards and such," said Charles Gibson, who co-hosts the show with Joan Lunden. "But it was a very good audience."

Phil Beuth, ABC president for early morning and late night entertainment, echoed Gibson's comment.

"The audience was very important to the show," Beuth said.

The crowd's jovial attitude kept with the show's atmosphere.

At the end of the program, Gibson, Lunden and weather forecaster Spencer Christian threw Good Morning America frisbees into the crowd.

When the crowd pressed against the stage after the show, they received baseball cards featuring the program's hosts. Gibson's reads. "The All-Star plays Co-Host position of America's starting team..."

Lunden and Gibson walked into the audience at several points during the show, the latter ribbing the crowd about the qualities of his alma matter, Princeton.

Gibson also joked with the spectators as a crew members counted down the number of second to air time. "Don't screw up," he said.

The show included several taped segments--one featuring Harvard crew, an other looking at undergraduate life. In addition, a panel of four students--Crimson President Julian E. Barnes '93, HarvardFoundation Co-chair Natosha O. Reid '93, MarianoF. Cuellar '93 and Eric S. Gregory '92 talked withGibson about Harvard.

In an interview with Neil L. Rudenstine thatopened the show, Gibson asked how Harvard stacksup against its myth.

"We don't want to be pretentious," Rudenstinesaid, "but we do want to be the best."

Admissions Pitch

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R.Fitzsimmons '67 also appeared, giving the nationalaudience his practiced pitch as head of theadmissions recruiting team.

Citing statistics about the high percentage ofstudents on financial aid and from public highschools, Fitzsimmons said that perceptions ofHarvard as unattainable are mistaken.

Later, Lunden asked for a show of hands fromprivate school graduates and then from publicschool graduates. The second show of hands wasaccompanied by loud cheering.

In an interview after the show, both hosts saidthey were pleased with its outcome, but concededthat many serious issues were glossed over.

"If this were a three-hour public radio showwithout commercials, maybe we could do more,"Gibson said.

Security was tight around the event, with anumber of uniformed police officers supervised byLt. Lawrence Murphy of the Harvard UniversityPolice Department.

This reporter, mistaken for a member of theHarvard Lampoon, was initially refused entranceinto the area. Actual Lampoon members did not makea stir, although one student did sneak into theaudience wearing a green monster mask.

Good Morning America officialsapproached the student, then backed away seeingthat the individual had a guest tag. Murphy,however, escorted the student out of the enclosedarea.CrimsonHaibin Jiu...while A. Dog waits for the end of thefestivities.

In an interview with Neil L. Rudenstine thatopened the show, Gibson asked how Harvard stacksup against its myth.

"We don't want to be pretentious," Rudenstinesaid, "but we do want to be the best."

Admissions Pitch

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R.Fitzsimmons '67 also appeared, giving the nationalaudience his practiced pitch as head of theadmissions recruiting team.

Citing statistics about the high percentage ofstudents on financial aid and from public highschools, Fitzsimmons said that perceptions ofHarvard as unattainable are mistaken.

Later, Lunden asked for a show of hands fromprivate school graduates and then from publicschool graduates. The second show of hands wasaccompanied by loud cheering.

In an interview after the show, both hosts saidthey were pleased with its outcome, but concededthat many serious issues were glossed over.

"If this were a three-hour public radio showwithout commercials, maybe we could do more,"Gibson said.

Security was tight around the event, with anumber of uniformed police officers supervised byLt. Lawrence Murphy of the Harvard UniversityPolice Department.

This reporter, mistaken for a member of theHarvard Lampoon, was initially refused entranceinto the area. Actual Lampoon members did not makea stir, although one student did sneak into theaudience wearing a green monster mask.

Good Morning America officialsapproached the student, then backed away seeingthat the individual had a guest tag. Murphy,however, escorted the student out of the enclosedarea.CrimsonHaibin Jiu...while A. Dog waits for the end of thefestivities.