Assembly Holds First Meeting, Elects McDonough Chairman

The Student Assembly last night elected Joseph F. McDonough '81 its chairman and Christopher R. Owens '81-2 its vice chairman in its first meeting of the year.

McDonough, who replaces Maxine S. Pfeffer '81 as chairman, said last night he will run the assembly mainly by chairing meetings, keeping order and acting as the assembly's voice to the outside world--roughly the role designated to the chairman under the assembly's constitution.

Not By My Hand

McDonough said that much of the assembly's effectiveness will depend on its members' enthusiasm rather than on any specific action by him. "You can't reach out to people, grab them by the neck and ask them to get involved because they're being attacked on all sides by all sorts of organizations," he added.

The assembly needs to make a major accomplishment to motivate students, McDonough added.

The election for assembly chairman was a runoff between McDonough and Leslie Cornfeld '81. Six assembly members--including one freshman--were nominated for the post.

Great Expectations

In a speech following his nomination, McDonough, former chairman of the assembly's College Life Committee, said the assembly should consider four major issues this year: an alternative food plan, a library open 24 hours a day, the continued tuition increases and a need for more security in several areas of the University.

Elizabeth B. Tracy '81 was elected secretary and Lance D. Atworth Jr. '83 assistant secretary yesterday. Further elections of assembly officers will be held at the next meeting on October 7 at 7:30 p.m.

In other business, the assembly will hold elections tomorrow and Friday in the Freshman Union for ten vacant freshman seats. Under an extended deadline, 20 freshmen submitted position papers for the freshman seats on the Assembly, and all but three seats in the North Yard are contested.

Next week the assembly will open a new office in the basement of Harvard Hall. Harvard will provide furniture and filing cabinets for the office, Pfeffer said