The annual Harvard rite of passage where seniors dig a bit deeper into their weary wallets to leave a gift to the University began last week, as the chairs of the Senior Gift Committee for the Class of 2001 were announced.

Matthew L. Getman '01 of Kirkland House and Vanessa I. Rosado '01 of Eliot House were announced last week as the Senior Gift Committee (SGC) chairs in a full-page Crimson advertisement.

Working with First Class Marshal Amma Ghartey-Tagoe '01 and the Harvard Development Office, they will coordinate members of the senior gift committee in each of the Houses who solicit contributions.

Getman and Rosado have not set a monetary goal, but have set a participation target of 65 percent, above the 1990s' average rate of approximately 60 percent.

An alternative senior gift fund will also solicit donations from seniors this year for charity, according to David B. Orr '01, a Cabot House senior who is one of the fund's organizers.

Students may earmark their donations to the Senior Gift for either financial aid or the College Fund, an unrestricted fund administered by the dean of the College.

Rosado said the gift represents "an opportunity for the senior class to thank the University and a way for us to help the undergrads coming after us."

This year's Senior Gift will not specially target wealthy students, organizers said.