Eliot Elects New Co-Chairs

Last night, 75 residents of Eliot House elected Ben F. Abbott '96 and John M. Malleis '96 the new co-chairs of the house committee.

Kevin M. Davis '96, who has been co-chair since Vincent P. Fiorino '95 resigned his position as co-chair five weeks ago, removed himself from the ballot, even though he accepted a nomination at the previous week's meeting.

When Davis took over the position of co-chair he said he would not run in the general election in December. He cited this statement and his inability to unify the house over the last few weeks as reasons for not running for the position.

"Five weeks and out, as I said I would," Davis said. "At first I entertained the notion [of running], but in the absence of building a coalition in the last five weeks I see nothing else I can contribute."

The most lively debate of the evening did not involve the elections, but the possible subsidy of Eliot House crew shells.

The house crew team asked for $800 from both the house committee and the masters to purchase jackets for each of the rowers. The rowers would also contribute $25 to the cost of the $75 jackets. This proposal sparked debate over the nature of intramural athletics and Eliot House spirit.

While in office, co-chair Allison I. Rossi '95 and Davis created the Eliot House committee's first constitution. The new constitution allows for proxy votes, which permit house residents to vote for officers without actually attending the election meeting.

House committee members said they have mixed feelings about the proxy voting. Ernest Minelli '95, who said he has been involved in house committee for the last three years, said he thought the proxy method of voting was a good way to encourage participation in house committee.

"Eliot House has had the reputation of being very hierarchical in the past, but we're trying to change that," Minelli said. "I think it's a good idea, because most of the people who vote proxy are people that come to the meetings regularly."

Michael C. De Prizio '96, one of this term's social chairs, said he was criticized for voting against the idea.

"I voted against it, because I don't think it's a good idea, but I was told I was being elitist," he said.

According to Rossi, there were about 25 proxy votes in this election.

There were also mixed reactions to the results of the election.

"I think they're going to have a really good house committee," Minelli said.

A senior who wished to remain anonymous said she "thinks this house is going to Hell." She later said that the house committee members were not representative of the house as a whole.

When asked about his plans for next year, Abbott said he envisaged no huge changes.

"I don't know," he said. "I guess I want to make house committee meeting more fun."