Five members of the Administrative Board--including Chairman John B. Fox Jr. '59, dean of the College--will participate in an unusual "Open Forum" on Ad Board matters tonight in Emerson Hall.

Conceived last term by members of the Undergraduate Council, the forum stems from a series of recent discussions between council delegates and Ad Board members over how to increase students' understanding of the workings of the College's 92-year-old disciplinary body.

Believing that the Ad Board's procedures are "mysterious" to many undergraduates, council members had initially wanted to stage an open, mock session in which officials would review a series of simulated cases.

But after Fox and other Ad Board members expressed concerns that a straight simulation might further distort student perceptions, council and Ad Board representatives agreed to an open discussion format similar to a council-sponsored forum on the Core Curriculum attended by top officials last month.

Natasha Penel '83, who organized tonight's program, said yesterday that she and Fox would make opening remarks before an hour-long discussion by the Board members based on a set of prepared questions. Pearl added that students and others in the Emerson 210 audience would have at least a half-hour to ask additional questions of the officials.

Earlier this week, council members distributed to dining halls and Houses a pamphlet entitled "The Ad Board and You," prepared by council delegates in consultation with officials. The question-and-answer booklet is part of the council's effort to promote understanding of the Board's functions.

Fox said recently that officials were initially somewhat hesitant about tonight's forum because of their recollections of the last student attempt to prompt discussion of the Ad Board--a Quincy House seminar that Fox said was poorly attended.