Hyman Elected U.C. President

Out with the old, in with the new.

The Undergraduate Council elected Robert M. Hyman '98-'97 as its president last night. Brian R. Blais '97, the outgoing treasurer, was elected vice president last night.

Both new officers have served just two semesters on the council.

In a run-off election, Hyman defeated outgoing Campus Life Committee Co-chair Jonathan P. Feeney '97, 51 to 27.

"I feel exhilarated," Hyman said. "I am thrilled that this is going to be such a great semester. The enthusiasm and talents of Harvard College students and its representatives will be more effective than ever before in addressing student needs."

"I am extremely confident that the current council is ready to take our abilities to address student needs in a new direction," he added.

After being elected president, Hyman quickly fulfilled his campaign promise to not hesitate to step down from the chair of a meeting--this time to call his parents.

Hyman defeated long-time council leaders Feeney and Justin C. Label '97, who served last semester as vice president.

Also defeated were Jenn R. Dean '96, who has served only one semester on the council, and new-comer Jeremy R. Jenkins '97, who ran for the first time this semester under the umbrella of the Progressive Undergraduate Council Coalition (PUCC).

PUCC is a coalition formed last spring whose members want to politicize the council and make it a hub of campus activism.

Defeated vice presidential candidates were outgoing Parliamentarian Elizabeth A. Haynes '98, outgoing Campus Life Committee Co-chair Rudd W. Coffey '97, Bradford E. Miller '97 (who is a Crimson editor), and four-year council veteran Paul K. Kim '96.

Label said he was disappointed not to have been elected president but he did not fault the council's decision.

"Rob will do a good job, and there are so many people working hard," Label said. "I hope we don't lose too many people over the course of the semester."

Feency said that while he was also disappointed, he was glad he had run in the presidential election.

"I knew what I was getting into," Feeney said. "I think PUCC made a big difference in the campaign."

Feeney was not alone in attribut- ing the unforseen elections of two relative newcomers to the influence of PUCC. Indeed, Coffey said he saw something of an anti-council establishment pattern in the voting.

"I think Rob and Brain will do a great job, and it's going to be a great semester, Coffey said. "But it's interesting to see both Jon and I lost and so did [Haynes] and [Label]. We're all more part of the establishment and it's kind of obvious PUCC and the new members might want to vote against the establishment."

Blais, too, thanked PUCC to some extent for his success.

"I knew it would be a battle. Rudd is an institution on the U.C. I think PUCC really swung my way," Blais said.

Both Hyman and Blais took steps in their position papers to show a willingness to work with PUCC affiliated council members.

In another PUCC victory, Lamelle D. Rawlins '99, a PUCC candidate, was elected secretary over secondterm council member Christopher R. M. Fadden '97, a Crimson editor.

While these elections represent a significant change in council leadership, one thing did not change; the length of council meetings.

Elections started at 7 p.m. and continued in the council's traditional Harvard Hall venue until 11:30 p.m., when Harvard security guards forced members to leave so that they could lock the building.

As elections for treasurer had yet to take place, the meeting was moved to the Straus common room.

There, Edward B. Smith '97 was elected council treasurer. Smith also ran this semester as a PUCC candidate.

In other council news, a bill passed late last night will allow the council to organize voter registration drives for the upcoming Cambridge City Council elections

"I think Rob and Brain will do a great job, and it's going to be a great semester, Coffey said. "But it's interesting to see both Jon and I lost and so did [Haynes] and [Label]. We're all more part of the establishment and it's kind of obvious PUCC and the new members might want to vote against the establishment."

Blais, too, thanked PUCC to some extent for his success.

"I knew it would be a battle. Rudd is an institution on the U.C. I think PUCC really swung my way," Blais said.

Both Hyman and Blais took steps in their position papers to show a willingness to work with PUCC affiliated council members.

In another PUCC victory, Lamelle D. Rawlins '99, a PUCC candidate, was elected secretary over secondterm council member Christopher R. M. Fadden '97, a Crimson editor.

While these elections represent a significant change in council leadership, one thing did not change; the length of council meetings.

Elections started at 7 p.m. and continued in the council's traditional Harvard Hall venue until 11:30 p.m., when Harvard security guards forced members to leave so that they could lock the building.

As elections for treasurer had yet to take place, the meeting was moved to the Straus common room.

There, Edward B. Smith '97 was elected council treasurer. Smith also ran this semester as a PUCC candidate.

In other council news, a bill passed late last night will allow the council to organize voter registration drives for the upcoming Cambridge City Council elections