They've marshalled enough support to get them this far. And with a little more, they just might become class marshals.

It all depends on the results of this week's elections, which were held at house dining halls last night and last until lunch on Friday. Names of the four men and four women who will help plan Commencement, solicit donations and organize reunions after graduation will be released soon afterward.

The male finalists are: Eli K. Aheto '97, Derrick N. Ashong '97, Rudd W. Coffey '97, Matthew C. Doberman '97, Vivek H. Maru '97, Kevin C. Scott '97, John W. Turner '97, and Clay M. West '97.

The female finalists are: Amara T. Balthrop-Lewis '97, Liza M. Hildreth '97, Crimson editor Allyson V. Hobbs '97, Jocelyn M. Kiley '97, Jane C. Manners '97, Millicent J. Odunze '97, Christine M. Perez '97 and Marcia M. Turner '97.

Forty-six women and 39 men campaigned in last week's preliminary elections, with 780 seniors, or 41 percent of the Class of 1997, casting ballots, said Marilyn Scott, a staff assistant at Wadsworth House for classes and reunions.

Surviving contestants represent a considerable cross-section of their class, from editor of The Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard to captain of the varsity rugby team to chair of the PBHA Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program.

Most said they're honored and excited about possibly representing their class' planning of major social events for eternity.

"I'm really excited. I think it'd be a terrific job to have. It would enable me to stay in touch with my classmates for the rest of my life," Manners said.

Doberman said, "It's a wonderful chance to get involved and stay involved with the Harvard community."

Lowell House has three male finalists and two female finalists. By contrast, Dunster, Dudley, Mather, Quincy and Winthrop have none.

When asked why some houses seem under-represented, Scott replied, "You'd have to ask your fellow senior classmates."

Hobbs, one of two finalists from Adams House, said, "That's very surprising, and clearly there are stellar people from all different regions of campus."

Hobbs' competition is coming from close quarters. Manners, her roommate, is also a finalist.

Still, she said, "There's absolutely no sense of competition. [Jane] is great, and I think she'd be an awesome class marshal."

A third roommate, P. Nikia Bergan '97, said she'll have a tough time deciding between her dynamic dormmates.

"It really depends on who's nicest to me this week," she quipped.

Coffey said Bergan should not despair. "I don't think that anybody can go wrong with any of them," he said.