New, Improved Council

The Student Council got a new constitution this week, and officers of the group expressed pleasure, following Tuesday's referendum, at the number of students who voted in favor of the changes. They had every right to be pleased, for the new charter is far more concise, flexible, and efficient than its 1947 predecessor.

Four major revisions have been made. Now, for the first time, councils will serve from February to February instead of from September to June. Because of this sensible change the group will no longer be hindered by the presence of last-term seniors who are far too busy on theses and General Examinations to fulfill their duties as council members. Outgoing councils, under the new system, will still be in college to help orientate their successors.

Another revision, although less conspicuous than the others, may well prove to be the most significant. Future councils are obligated to appoint from four to six men each year to work solely on long-term advisory projects. In the past the group could (but did not have to) appoint three extra members, and usually failed to do so. The new appointive members can restore the importance of the council by making investigations in the tradition of the 1949 Poskanzer Report.

The major shortcoming of last year's organization was its tendency to busy itself with insignificant, short-range projects. The new constitution sets the stage for constructive investigation on a broader plane and could lead to reports on such questions as football and scholarships.

A third revision eliminates the complicated, unreliable system of nominating council candidates in open House meetings and establishes in its place the method of nominating representatives by petition. This improvement should avoid the confusion and irregularities which occurred last spring, causing widespread public disapproval.

Finally, freshmen will be given two votes on all future councils. Since they represent a large segment of the College, both in numbers and influence, it seems entirely right that these students, who previously sat in on the council without voting privileges, should receive effective representation.

Although the council itself has made no major reports this fall, in fact, has done little to catch the public eye, its efficient and thorough work in producing this new constitution cannot be underestimated. It has put its successors in a strong position to perform services for the College.