Other speeches will touch on more humoroustopics.

Weinstein, a member of a semisecret SorrentoSquare social organization which used tooccasionally publish a so-called humor magazine,will deliver the Ivy oration, the only speechwhose guidelines specifcally mandate humor.

"Ivy is humorous so you hope the submissionsare funny," Hootnick said. "Some are funnier thanothers."

Weinstein, who could not be reached for commentlast night, has also performed original songs atClub Passim and the Arts First festival.

Hicks promised that his Class Ode--three newverses to the College's alma mater, "Fair Harvard"--will include elements of levity as well.

"It's not intended to be falling-down funny butmore to raise a smile," said Hicks, an economicsconcentrator originally from Indianapolis, Ind.

"It's light verse...It's stuff that the Classof 1999 will appreciate. I'm not going to includetoo much rag-on-Harvard humor," Hicks added. "Thatcould go on for 20 verses."

Hicks said his singing experience with theHarvard Krokodiloes prompted him to write the ode.

"We do a lot of writing for the group," hesaid. "We have to write a lot of originalmaterial, and [writing the ode] fits right in withthat stuff."

In spite of his musical experience, Hicksadmitted he was not familiar with the originalversion.

"I actually don't know the real words myself,"said Hicks, who said he would not have written theode if he had to perform it by himself.

The ode is usually performed by a group ofsingers put together from the senior class.

Hootnick said the process of selecting thespeakers was especially difficult this year due toan unusually large applicant pool.

"They were really all outstanding speeches,"Hootnick said. "We had a difficult time deciding."

In addition to the three speeches and the odefor this year's class day exercises, Institute ofPolitics Director Alan K. Simpson will address theclass of 1999 June 9