Elections Divide North House

Its bitter house committee elections are over, but political turmoil continues to plague North House.

The election results were finalized Monday. But a petition criticizing the election process has been circulating since Saturday, and 100 students have signed.

These students argue that the house constitution requires that the house committee have just one president. In last week's balloting, however, Katherine A. Woo '95 and Marcos D. Velayos '95 were named co-presidents in an apparent attempt by the election's organizers to avoid a contentious run-off.

The house masters, former house committee officials and both Woo and Velayos signed the letter informing house residents of the election results, according to Jeffrey H. Yin '95.

But no one, Yin says, is taking responsibility for the decision to name co-presidents.

Woo and Velayos were the election's top two vote getters, though neither was able to gain a majority. Some students claim the house constitution requires that a committee president win a majority.

"A lot of people were upset that a decision was made for them," presidential candidate Michael D. Last says of the decision.

So last weekend Yin and Wing-sy Wong '95 started the petition, which criticizes house leadership for being "undemocratic" in the elections.

"We were upset that the people who had made the decision had not really taken seriously the concerns of the people who had approached them," Yin says.

Despite the petition, House Master J. Woodland Hastings '66 says he does not intend to interfere with the election results.

"We appreciate their concern," he says, "but we went the house to go on."

But North House students, including candidates for the house committee presidency, describe the recent elections as "nasty."

"A lot of people thought it was really silly the way it got out of hand," says last year's committee president Deirdre A. McEvoy '94. "People do not know what to take seriously any more."

In the race for president, some campaign posters attacked candidates personally. Velayos, for example, was accused in some posters of not paying his house dues and falling to attend house committee meetings.

"The campaign got a little more personal than people wanted it to," Yin says.

The bitterness of the campaign has lingered, students say. And in an attempt to clear the air, the North House Committee will hold a meeting on Sundayto hear suggestions for changing the houseconstitution.

"I think it is a good idea." Yin says of thepossibility of a new constitution. "Most peopleagree that the way the elections happened thisyear was out of control."

Other students, however, suggest that reformingthe constitution is not necessary.

"You should not need to rewrite theConstitution to deal with elections like this"says Bryan L. Matthey '94.

There may be other political issues to dealwith in the house. Although several studentsdiscount them as "a joke," posters have appearedrecently advocating the secession of Moors Hallfrom the rest of North House.

"I though it was kind of amusing," Yin says."It is not a serious thing."

Many students say that what they would likemost is for the house to move on.

"A lot of people are happy it is over," McEvoysays.

But McEvoy also says the chaotic electionprocess could ultimately benefit the house.

She says: "The interest in the North HouseCommittee has grown, and something good will comeout of it.

"I think it is a good idea." Yin says of thepossibility of a new constitution. "Most peopleagree that the way the elections happened thisyear was out of control."

Other students, however, suggest that reformingthe constitution is not necessary.

"You should not need to rewrite theConstitution to deal with elections like this"says Bryan L. Matthey '94.

There may be other political issues to dealwith in the house. Although several studentsdiscount them as "a joke," posters have appearedrecently advocating the secession of Moors Hallfrom the rest of North House.

"I though it was kind of amusing," Yin says."It is not a serious thing."

Many students say that what they would likemost is for the house to move on.

"A lot of people are happy it is over," McEvoysays.

But McEvoy also says the chaotic electionprocess could ultimately benefit the house.

She says: "The interest in the North HouseCommittee has grown, and something good will comeout of it.