Vice Presidential Candidates

Elizabeth A. Haynes '98

One of the biggest upheavals on the council this fall was the resignation of Elizabeth A. Haynes '98 of Winthrop House from the chair of the council's largest committee, Student Affairs, amid her allegations of a council biased against her as both a woman and a conservative.

Now Haynes is again seeking a position on the executive board. She hopes to use the role of vice president to be an advocate for students.

"The U.C. needs an ombudsperson, someone that students on campus can rely on to hear their ideas," she says. "Students should know they've got a phone number and e-mail that's always accessible to them."

In office, Haynes hopes to promote legislation to provide a multicultural center, refine the tenure process, increase the numbers of female faculty members and improve advising.

Haynes would also like to see the College give students more "move-out" time at the end of the year and change the course guide to provide a chart of courses by day and time.

Within the council, she believes the role of the vice president is to support the president.

"The president's job is to set the tone, and my job is to not deviate from the president's view of how things should be run," she says.

Lamelle D. Rawlins '99

As the highest-ranking woman on the executive board this year, Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 of Matthews Hall has gained a reputation for her intense drive to promote legislation intended to increase gender equality at Harvard.

"I think that I've tried to take a strong stand fighting for gender equality, fighting for campus safety," says Rawlins.

Rawlins has been the past sponsor of legislation relating to issues of gender neutrality, including sponsoring a proposal to change all official uses of "freshman" to "first year."

Like her running mate, council President Robert M. Hyman '98-'97, Rawlins says the problems of divisiveness on the council are not as important as the work it is able to accomplish.

"Divisiveness makes for interesting discussion, but all I care about is what we produce. And anybody on the council can be proud of what we've produced," she says.

"I think this council has made remarkable strides toward credibility. I'm proud of being the third-ranking council member," Rawlins says.

Other issues addressed by the Hyman/Rawlins campaign platform, "A Student's Bill of Rights," are safety, advising, social issues and curriculum reform.

The council has made many strides in these areas this year, Rawlins says. "I really think the council has done a excellent job of coming together. The council is a responsive body that really does care."

Tally Zingher '99

The institution of popular elections should give the vice president a stronger voice on the council, says Tally Zingher '99 of Weld Hall.

"I don't want to see the vice president as a 'yes' person to the president," says Zingher, who is currently co-chair of the council's Campus Life Committee. "I don't want to give the president full control. It's important to have two independent people, two independent voices."

Zingher hopes to pursue a closer working relationship with University Hall as vice president. In the past, the president has been the key liaison, but the vice president should also meet with the deans to provide another opinion, Zingher says.

With the advent of popular elections, she sees the role of the vice president as becoming increasingly concerned with substantive issues.

"The council needs to find a better balance between advocating student concerns and being the entertainment committee of the campus," says Zingher.

Legislation she would like to work on includes making council members the "representatives" of individual student groups, creating the A-/B+ grade, implementing Core reform, improving lighting around the Yard and increasing shuttle services.