Heinicke Elected Undergraduate Council Chair

Members of the Undergraduate Council elected Malcolm A. Heinicke '93 as the representative body's new chair last night.

Meeting for the first time this year, the 88-member council chose outgoing vice chair Heinicke over David L. Duncan '93 and Mark D. McKay '94. Council officials would not release the vote tally, but said the winner had to receive at least 45 of the 88 votes.

Heinicke, who pledged in his pre-election speech to "hit the ground running," said he plans to continue the direction of the previous board.

"If I can do half as good a job as [former Chair David A. Aronberg '93] did in the position of chair, I'll consider it a success," said the Eliot House resident as he took the gavel to run the remainder of the night's meeting.

Later in the meeting, Maya Prabhu '94 defeated Michael P. Beys '94 and Jennifer W. Groves '94 for the office of vice chair. The council also selected Carey W. Gabay '94 over Rico Reyes '93 as its new treasurer.

The council will elect a secretary at next week's meeting.

After the meeting, Heinicke said his immediate priorities are to get the council working on the grant process and to "fine tune the treasury."

"We must be more accountable financially," Heinicke said. "We do have bills to pay."

Before the council's vote, each of the three candidates presented five minute speeches and answered questions from council representatives.

Heinicke devoted most of his speech to a story about his losing an election in elementary school because he didn't know how to win his classmates' votes.

While his opponent years ago ousted him by passing out Twinkies, he said, he was better prepared for last night's election.

"If you want to serve people, you have got to have a plan. I do have a plan...and I have the energy to im- plement it and the ability to work withothers," Heinicke said. He has been criticized inthe past by some council members for pushing hisideas through the council and limiting othermembers' involvement.

Duncan, who has served on the councilthroughout his undergraduate career, said in hisspeech that if elected chair, he would increasedaily input on council decisions from members andtheir constituents.

Duncan also said he would work to improve thecouncil's image in the community and to "heal theinternal dissension" shown by controversies lastyear over the planning of the De La Soul and SpinDoctors concerts.

He said that Heinicke proved himself unworthyas a leader by "underpublicizing" the open councilelections two weeks ago.

"This year's election was the worst publicizedI've seen in four years at Harvard. We can'tafford to have an Undergraduate Council where onlythose in the know can run," Duncan said.

No Go for `Perot'

Mark Mckay, touted as the "Ross Perot" of theelection for his protest of the election method,proposed a radical change--one that mightjeopardize his own post if he were elected. McKay,who quit his council seat last year, said ifelected he would organize another council chairelection in which the entire student body wouldvote.

"If you elect me, and I can't arrange a generalelection for Udergraduate Council chair byNovember third, I promise that I will resign aschair," McKay said.

After the meeting, both Duncan and McKay saidthey were not bitter about losing and wouldcontinue to try to forward their ideas in thecouncil.

While Duncan said he will push his ideas forreforming the grants process and starting at FirstYear Caucus, McKay said that Heinicke has "seemedrespective" towards modifying the council'selection process.

"Hopefully we'll be able to look into it forthe next election," McKay said.

Most council members present after the meetingsaid they are confident Heinicke will perform hisnew responsibilities well. Aronberg said hissuccessor "is competent and has greatadministrative and leadership skills."

"I know he won't shy away from thecontroversial political issues like date rape,"said Aronberg, adding that he hopes Heinicke willbe able to obtain more money for capitalexpenditures and house events.

Bradley W. Setser '93, now in his second yearon the council, said the new chair should farewell.

"[Heinicke] has a reputation for getting thingsdone. Last year he pushed a lot of things throughthe council, and I think it would be hard for himnot to do the same thing as chair," Setser said.

In other business, Beys, the outgoingtreasurer, reported losses from the De la Soulconcert at $10,940.68. He said that corporatesponsorships from the concert raised $3,500 forthe homeless, however.

Beys said the council has received about$106,000 in student fees this year. He said thatthe council has about $65,000 left from last year,$25,000 of which will be used to pay the remainderof last year's grants

Duncan, who has served on the councilthroughout his undergraduate career, said in hisspeech that if elected chair, he would increasedaily input on council decisions from members andtheir constituents.

Duncan also said he would work to improve thecouncil's image in the community and to "heal theinternal dissension" shown by controversies lastyear over the planning of the De La Soul and SpinDoctors concerts.

He said that Heinicke proved himself unworthyas a leader by "underpublicizing" the open councilelections two weeks ago.

"This year's election was the worst publicizedI've seen in four years at Harvard. We can'tafford to have an Undergraduate Council where onlythose in the know can run," Duncan said.

No Go for `Perot'

Mark Mckay, touted as the "Ross Perot" of theelection for his protest of the election method,proposed a radical change--one that mightjeopardize his own post if he were elected. McKay,who quit his council seat last year, said ifelected he would organize another council chairelection in which the entire student body wouldvote.

"If you elect me, and I can't arrange a generalelection for Udergraduate Council chair byNovember third, I promise that I will resign aschair," McKay said.

After the meeting, both Duncan and McKay saidthey were not bitter about losing and wouldcontinue to try to forward their ideas in thecouncil.

While Duncan said he will push his ideas forreforming the grants process and starting at FirstYear Caucus, McKay said that Heinicke has "seemedrespective" towards modifying the council'selection process.

"Hopefully we'll be able to look into it forthe next election," McKay said.

Most council members present after the meetingsaid they are confident Heinicke will perform hisnew responsibilities well. Aronberg said hissuccessor "is competent and has greatadministrative and leadership skills."

"I know he won't shy away from thecontroversial political issues like date rape,"said Aronberg, adding that he hopes Heinicke willbe able to obtain more money for capitalexpenditures and house events.

Bradley W. Setser '93, now in his second yearon the council, said the new chair should farewell.

"[Heinicke] has a reputation for getting thingsdone. Last year he pushed a lot of things throughthe council, and I think it would be hard for himnot to do the same thing as chair," Setser said.

In other business, Beys, the outgoingtreasurer, reported losses from the De la Soulconcert at $10,940.68. He said that corporatesponsorships from the concert raised $3,500 forthe homeless, however.

Beys said the council has received about$106,000 in student fees this year. He said thatthe council has about $65,000 left from last year,$25,000 of which will be used to pay the remainderof last year's grants