Starting today, first-year students will no longer find Yard Bulletins dropped at their doors.

The weekly bulletin of information from the Freshman Dean's Office can be received by any student with access to the computer network, said Dean of Freshmen Elizabeth S. Nathans.

The objective, Nathans said, is to reduce the cost of paper and photocopying and to lessen the number of trees Harvard uses in paper production.

Nathans, who describes herself as formerly "computer-phobic," said this switch will help students to become more comfortable with computers.

Nathans says she recognizes that this new method will cause some inconveniences for students who do not have accounts or do not like to use computers.

For these reasons, she says, paper copies of the Bulletin are still available--on proctor bulletin boards, in the Freshman Union and in the Freshman Dean's Office.

"We are not forcing students to have an account. For the vast majority of students using computers, this is a good step to take," said Nathans.

Student reaction to this change was mixed. Many expressed dissatisfaction at the news of the new plan.

"I hate it. I want it back on paper," Rachel S. Averbuck '97 said.

"It is unfair to the population in general," said Dana D. Dore '97.

Many students said that they would not receivethe pertinent information given in the Bulletin.

"People aren't going to make the extra effortto set up an account just to read the YardBulletin. A lot more people will be a lot lessinformed," Ayanna A. Cage '97 said.

Other students expressed concern over theinconvenience of having to travel to the ScienceCenter to receive the information.

"I will have to trek all the way over to theScience Center in the snow and the sleet to getthis information," said Averbuck.

"You are responsible for this information andsome people don't check e-mail...There could besomething important and you wouldn't know," Doresaid.

Many students said they are unhappy with thenew plan because they enjoy reading information onpaper and holding on to their Bulletins asreminders of important dates and events.