"We'll be hearing a lot of speeches over the next few days. The light note was definitely appropriate," said Celia D. Whitaker'99.

Interspersed among the moments of lightheartedness, both Wilson and Rudenstine offered advice for the seniors.

Rudenstine's first piece of advice was, "Do try not to be boring," which drew a rousing cheer from the seniors.

"Be generous and affectionate to yourself and others," he said. "You will do well. You already have done very well."

Wilson spoke of each graduate as a "major work of art."

"I hope your work of art will inspire and be inspired by those of others," she said.

For graduating seniors, the Baccalau- Lauren P. Malan Crimson READY FOR ANYTHING:Seniors leave Memorial Church after yesterday's Baccalaureate Service. Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine and Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson spoke at the prelude to tomorrow's exercises. reate Service was only one in a series ofevents culminating in Commencement.

"[Senior week has been] a whirlwind ofsleepless, foodless days," said Daniel J. Benjamin'99. "I'm not exactly sure what this event is evenabout."

Parents of seniors, however, appreciated thesignificance of the day.

"It's much more overwhelmingly moving than Iexpected it to be," said F. Neff Powell, father ofCharles N. Powell '99. "It's a great milestone anda great accomplishment."

"We just didn't want to miss a moment," saidTamar P. Halpern, mother of Gregory R. Halpern'99