By Chile Hidalgo '99

Special to the Gazette

When students enroll at Harvard College, they often seem to vanish from their hometowns without leaving a trace.

Now, thanks to a new service offered by the University's Office of News and Public Affairs and Harvard College, local newspapers will be able to report on the young scholars' progress.

The hometown news release project offers undergraduates the opportunity to keep their local newspapers informed periodically about their achievements, including matriculation, graduation, and the receipt of some academic and artistic awards and prizes.

Many other colleges have similar systems in place, but Harvard has been conspicuously absent, according to Alex Huppé, the University's director of public affairs.

"The hometown papers get releases from other colleges, but students who go to Harvard just seem to disappear from their communities," he said. "That's a shame. A great many families with teenagers are interested in what happens to other students in the neighborhood."

This summer, the News Office launched the hometown release project with support from Dean of Harvard College Harry R. Lewis and with help from the Freshman Dean's Office, the FAS Registrar's Office, and others. Student workers will be responsible for producing and mailing the releases.

"We expect to announce the matriculations of about 800 members of the Class of 2001 this fall," said assistant news director Debra Ruder, who is overseeing the project. "We'll send releases to the students' hometown newspapers, as well as to their parents/guardians.

"This is a student-run PR shop for the benefit of students," she explained.

Each press release costs the News Office around $2, including postage fees, according to Huppé. "In terms of the cost and the result achieved, the hometown news project is the most effective PR we can offer."

To participate, an incoming first-year student must complete a one-page release form with basic address and high school honors information. Upperclass members will receive information about the project later this fall.

Any first-year student who would like to fill out a hometown news release form may call the News Office at 495-1585, or send an e-mail message to hometown@harvard.edu. Copies will also be available at the Freshman Dean's Office.