Going to the Polls

The Dowling report became table talk this week, as students penned their opinions of the proposed new student government system through two referendums held in dining halls.

The first referendum asked students if they supported the Dowling report's recommendations, while the second questioned student response to the limited student decision-making power offered by the proposal.

As students considered the referendums in their dining halls, committees debated how the report could be instituted or changed.

A student committee assembled to draw up the proposed new student council's constitution finished a preliminary draft Thursday, but the constitution committee still must decide how much voting power minority representatives should have on the council's administrative board.

The preliminary draft of the group's constitution calls for:

* an 85-member student council elected from the 13 Houses and four areas of the Yard:

* an administrative committee composed of the officers of the council, the chairmen of five standing committees within the council, and the representatives of six minority groups:

* and a nearly autonomous budget committee responsible for delegating the funds of the council each semester.

The constitution also includes provisions for holding the council's members and its budget committee accountable for their actions: a council member would have to forfeit his seat because of poor attendance or performance. In addition, an organization would be able to challenge budget committee decisions through an appeals procedure.

The Committee on Houses and Undergraduate Life will discuss the report and consider possible amendments this Monday.