A freshman was assaulted and robbed in Harvard Yard while returning to his dormitory after dinner Sunday.

The muggers took the student's wallet, removed the cash inside--$15 U.S. and $23 Canadian--and tossed the wallet back at him, according to the student and the Harvard University Police report on the incident.

The student, who requested anonymity, said four Black males aged 16 or 17 approached him from the pathway behind Thayer Hall as he was passing Widener Library. He said that one of the members of the group asked him for five dollars.

"I assumed they were just beggars asking for money," the student said, adding that he tried to walk away and got as far as the entrance to Thayer South.

According to the student, one of men yelled at him to stop walking and--when he didn't stop--ran up to him and kicked him in the stomach. The other three assailants followed their leader and also struck the surrounded student, he said. "They got a few nice whacks in," he added.

"After I realized they were gone, I ran to the phone on the end of Holworthy" to call the police, the victim said. Harvard University police arrived within minutes, said the victim, but the assailants had escaped.

The victim said he didn't get a good look at his attackers, and that the police told him chances of apprehending the suspects are slim.

"I'm obviously very nervous about being alone now," the student said, "and I try to travel in groups--it's much safer."