Harvard administrators prefer chocolate.

During a trick-or-treat tour last night, a band of Crimson reporters visited the homes of several members of the Harvard faculty and administrative staff--and got a major sugar fix.

Most of the night's haul consisted of fun-sized chocolates: Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles offered Snickers; Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. '53 provided Hershey's miniatures and Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 produced a 10-pack of Milky Ways for the reporters.

Assistant Dean of Students Sarah E. Flatley offered the group an assortment of cookies, including fudge, chocolate chip and ginger snaps--all of them frozen.

"I didn't prepare," the dean said when she answered her Grays Hall door. "OK, hold on."

Unfortunately, while serving the cookies, Flately locked herself out. She was let back in by her husband, women's soccer coach Timothy W. Wheaton.

But Knowles and Mansfield, like Harvard Dining Services, provided a healthy choice, giving out apples while chatting with the assembled trick-or-treaters.

"Have an apple," Knowles said. "They're good for you."

Mansfield lived up to his conservative reputation.

"Did you see our car>" Mansfield asked. "There's in NRA sticker on the back bumper--partly to stick it to the Cambridge liberals and partly to provide protection against burglars."

The controversial professor said the whole Mansfield family got into the Halloween spirit by donning costumes for the a party last week.

"I was a dead, white male," Mansfield said. "My wife was 'Big Government.' She wore a stuffed red costume and carried bacon which symbolized pork."

His wife added: "I had an envelope of entitlements and lots of red tape hanging down."

President Neil L. Rudenstine and Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson were not at home last night.

One trick-or-treater said it probably wasn't a huge loss.

"We don't want to go to Rudenstine's anyway," said Crimson police reporter Marios V. Broustas '97, who was dressed as Kramer from TV's "Seinfeld." "Two years ago he only handed out healthy stuff."