Council Criticism Unfair

Many members of the Undergraduate Council were disturbed that your editorial "Running on Empty" in last week's Crimson [February 16] chose to attack the efforts of the council after a particularly productive council meeting. Apparently, the staff of The Crimson does not want the council to improve.

The press liaison was created with two goals in mind: to keep in touch with the students--a goal The Crimson itself suggested last year, and to combat negative publicity from the one news source who has categorically refused to publicize the council's success--The Crimson.

However, I feel your readers are better served not by a list of your failures, but rather a list of the council's accomplishments in the last semester and the first part of this one on which The Crimson did not comment:

* the Yale tailgate party attended by 2000 screaming fans

* badly-needed matching funds for house capital improvements

* cheaper phone rates and transfer fees for students

* a successful concert by Chuckle head

* a comedy concert by Adam Sandier of Saturday Night Live fame

* a standing-room-only free comedy concert by local comedian Rich Ceisler

* matching funds for social events in the houses to improve house social life

* an overflowing Masquerave Halloween party in Adams House

* a $40,000 grants package approved at the earliest date in the history of the council

* efforts to increase card key usage hours in the Yard

* an active Freshman Caucus and their eagerly awaited Freshman Formal

* a Casino Night enjoyed by all who attended despite the weather

* free Thanksgiving and Christmas shuttle buses to the airport

* calendar reform for exam periods

* improved dialogue with Dining Services Director Michael P. Berry

* later study hours in several libraries during exam period

* reduced-rate tickets for students to the Penn and Teller comedy show

* massive reform in the processes of council elections and grants, making them both more open and fair

* the prospect of thousands of dollars in student savings at no cost to students through a number of environmental improvement programs

* increased communications to the students through surveys and newsletters

The council pledges to continue its commitment to improving student life, to helping student organizations and to saving students money despite the fact that our student body is constantly undermined by the unnecessary editorials of The Crimson.

We look forward to working with the student body and all other organizations this coming semester, including The Crimson, to increase the quality of student life. Adam Hertzman '95   Undergraduate Council Parliamentarian   Dunster House