If that subscription offer for Sassy or Golf Digest seems somewhat suspicious, University Police Services warns it probably is.

Police said they expect the campus to be hit later this spring by "aggressive" and "unscrupulous" magazine sales representatives who may trespass in dorms, harass students and steal property.

Supervisor Clifford Lutz said unauthorized companies have targeted the University for several years, sometimes using unethical tactics to solicit subscription sales.

Some salespeople have entered unlocked dorms or apartment complexes looking for open rooms to enter unannounced, Lutz said.

The solicitors, who are usually college age, will then refuse to leave until residents hear their sales pitches and agree to purchase subscriptions. The vendors have been known to steal money and other property from residents' rooms, Lutz said.

"Some people say they do get magazines, but there's an awful lot who don't," Lutz said.

The salespeople, who are not hired by publishing companies, use lists of popular magazines and do not offer super savings, he added.

"We weren't really aware of the magnitude of the fraud until the last couple years," he said. "We really started concentrating on them and warning students the last two years."

In the last two years, University police arrested 22 people in conjunction with the magazine sales for trespassing, harassment and theft. Those charged were from Midwest or Southern states and were employed by various companies all with the same Houston address.

Police said they have received reports that the magazine salespeople have hit a number of California universities already this year. The companies only remain at each university for a few days before moving on, Lutz said.

In spring 1993, the companies targeted schools such as Cornell University, the University of Pittsburgh, Bucknell University, the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.

"We're on their route. They haven't missed us yet," said Lutz, who was unsure of the exact dates when the vendors might arrive.

The salespeople have been known to flatter potential customers and then refuse to stop their behavior until they buy a subscription, police said.

Lutz said anyone who witnesses people selling magazine subscriptions door to door should call the University police immediately and get a good physical description. Commercial sales conducted on campus without a permit are illegal.

Lutz said students can make sure they don't become victims if they avoid all magazine salespeople and use mail-in subscription inserts instead.

Jill Fisher (senior-special education) said she heard from a friend about the suspicious magazine solicitors.

"It's so weird," she said. "But I wouldn't be concerned because I wouldn't buy any."

However, Fisher said the thought of strangers roaming the dorms did worry her.

Nathan Pistner (freshman-chemical engineering) said people have come to his dorm room in the past to sell items such as raffle tickets, but never magazines. If a sales person did approach him in his dorm, he said he would just ignore it.

"I wouldn't give two hoots about it," he said.