Over 1000 alumni contributed a total of $55,000 to the Harvard College F and this month in response to a letter sent out in February by Dean Rosovsky, the director of the fund said yesterday.

Peter F. Clifton '49 said the response to the letter "was a phenomenal success," adding that contributions are still coming in.

The fund still trails last year's figure at this time by 8 per cent, even though the number of donors has risen by 7 per cent. Clifton said.

Rosovsky's letter said that "despite scrupulous care and cutbacks in many areas" the Faculty faces a possible $1.7 million deficit, and that "drastic changes in our style of operation are inevitable unless we can find increased income."

The appeal represents the first fund-raising effort to originate in the office of the Dean.

For Undergraduates only

Rosovsky appropriates expenditures from the college fund, which must be used for undergraduates.

Jack Shylling 72, associate director of the fund, said most of the money goes to scholarships; the remainder supplements House budgets, undergraduate athletics the Loeb and tutorials.

The Class of '75 kicked off its drive for pledges to the fund at a dinner held last night at the penthouse in Holyoke Center. John Finley '25' Eliot Professor of Greek Literature, was guest speaker, and former chief of the University Police, Robert Tonis received an award from the Class of '75.