Yet, others said the festivities areconveniently scheduled because October 11, thenight of the ball, is the only weekend night ofthe month that is not a Jewish holiday. They saidthe scheduling will present problems only forthose who wish to spend the long Columbus Day andYom Kippur weekend at home.

For the most part, however, student attentionhas focused on the ball since many returned toschool to find that the highlight of thefestivities was sold out.

The steering committee printed 3500 $15tickets, enough to accommodate roughly half of thestudent body. And, said organizers, the chiefconcern was that there would not be enoughinterest in the dance featuring Lester Lanin'ssociety orchestra, catered food and tents in theYard.

In late August, the College mailed invitationsto all students telling them to order theirtickets promptly because the supply was limited.Last week, the ball sold out, but, after studentcomplaints, Epps announced that an additional 1000tickets would be available and distributed througha lottery held today.

"We just didn't expect this reaction. Weexpected the opposite," said Sylvia M. Matthews'87, a member of the steering committee. Epps toosaid the strong interest surprised him.

But one student leader who will attend the ballsaid: "Dean Epps said he wasn't expecting a largeturnout. But that's the point. They should beplanning an event where they expect a largeturnout."

According to Cristina V. Coletta '87, one ofthe undergraduate 350th's two student organizers,the committee calculated potential attendancebased on participation in house formals and finalclub membership, among other factors. In addition,the number of invitations was limited by thephysical site of the ball, to be held in theMemorial Hall courtyard, where a similar fete tookplace at the College's 300th anniversary.

The price tag was set at $15 because organizerswanted the event to pay for itself. Coletta saidbetween $80,000 and $100,000 would be spent on theball. Other portions of the exclusive festivitieswere financed by donations from organizationsincluding BayBanks ($5000), AT&T ($13,000), theCambridge Trust Company ($1000) and the College($10,000-$15,000).

Epps said that the organizers considered theIndoor Track and Tennis Center at one point butrejected it because they wanted "a more elegantevent."

But an elegant event meant black-tie only, ahigher price tag and fewer people. Some studentssaid they were upset about the price and theattire requirements.

"There are some friends I know who can't doit," said Ivars G. Kuskevics '90, who has a ticketto the event.

Said Michael L. Goldenberg '88, a formercouncil member: "The criticism of the ball is avery valid thing. A lot of people are having[financial] problems with the ball."

Others termed "elitist" the decision to hold anevent which not everyone could attend.

"If this is our chance to shine and have a goodtime, then it doesn't make sense that onlyone-half can go," said one student who asked notto be identified.

"This whole ball business bothers me. If it'sfor undergraduates, all should be able to attend,"said Lowell Master William H. Bossert '59.