RGA Vetoes Policy Panel As 'Bypass'

In an unprecedented move, the Radcliffe Government Association yesterday voted not to endorse the Radcliffe Policy Committee formed by Mary I. Bunting, President of Radcliffe in the wake of last spring's hunger strike.

The RGA decided instead to submit all future proposals for committees on student policy to a student referendum. This is the first time that the RGA has rejected an administrative committee for lack of student support.

A letter to Mrs. Bunting circulated among the Radcliffe houses last night expresses dissatisfaction with the RPC. The letter has been signed by almost 300 students.

Mrs. Bunting said at yesterday's meeting that she set up the RPC to serve as a "committee for communication" between students and administration. RPC members were not elected by the student body, but were chosen by Mrs. Bunting from the house presidents and other student officials.

Most RGA representatives felt that house presidents were chosen to plan jolly-ups and other social activities rather than to determine student policy. "This is a vote of no confidence," said Jacqueline M. Lindsay '68, a member of the Ad Hoe Committee formed after last spring's hunger strike.

Letters

In addition to these two resolutions, the RGA told the president and the vice-president of RGA "not to attend meetings of the RPC in their official capacity." They also voted to send letters to the three house presidents asking them not to attend RPC meetings in an official capacity.

Mrs. Bunting spoke against all of the resolutions, and voted against all except the first, on which she abstained. "The RPC is neither a final answer nor a power committee," she said. "I thought it would be useful, but it wasn't meant for a moment to keep other things from happening."

Rachael A. Radio '68, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee, said that "the name of Radcliffe cannot be used in vain," but must be reserved for committees elected by the students. A former hunger striker said, "I feel that I have been bypassed."