With visions of Quad and River houses dancing in their heads, members of the Class of 1996 awoke yesterday to find little white envelopes at their doors that left some with dreams fulfilled and other with broken hearts.

In general, this year's housing lottery, the fourth under the administration's policy of non-ordered choice, inspired more elation than disappointment among first years. Gregory M. Ruckman '96, Adam L. Cohen '96 and Samuel J. Marland '96 drew number one overall in the lottery, which was done by computer. They are headed to Dunster House next year.

"We never expected to be first in line in anything at a Harvard," said Cohen. "We're thinking of getting [the announcement] framed."

David M. Wilson '96, Michael C. Su '96 Grant M. Ducton'96, John C. Mitchell '96 and Vasaali N. Thomadakus '96 were not as lucky. They got lottery number 367--dead last--and will be living in Currier House in the fall.

"We're dealing with the loss," said Wilson. "It was pretty nightmarish. I was sure that the Lampoon was Playing tricks on us."

Wilson said he is friends with the first-years who drew the top lottery number, and invites them--and the other 345 blocking groups--to "lick a dusty surface."

Housing Officer Catherine M. Millett said 87 percent of all rooming groups were placed in one of the four houses they requested while 13 percent were randomly assigned to one of four houses not originally on their lots.

Those four houses, according to interview with five years who were randomized, were Cabot, Currier, Mather and Leverett.

Several residents of 29 Garden St. who were assigned to the nearby Quad said they were disappointed with the lottery results yesterday.

One blocking group of eight men and two women from Garden Street was dejected after drawing the 364th lottery number and being placed in Cabot House.

"The reaction this morning was pretty horrible. It was an ugly moment," he said. "But, going to breakfast this morning, it was comforting to know that other people were actually in the Quad too."

Ericson also said that while he was not "terribly happy," he realized that the process was "totally random" and not something to be angry about.

Fear of being "Quadded," however, was as prevalent this year as it had been in the past, students said.

"I'd sleep in a toilet as long as it's beside the river," said Stephen J. McCauley '96, whose eight-person blocking group was placed into Eliot House.

But students who actually received Quad assignments were able to see the bright side of their situations.

"We wanted Kirkland because everyone else wanted it," said Cathy H. Ahn '96, whose two-person block was randomly assigned to Cabot house after coming up with number 359 in the lottery. "Now, [living in the Quad] is my excuse for buying myself a brand new mountain bike."