SAC Fills Committee Vacancies

After hundreds of ballots, four pizzas, two run-off elections and only one uncontested election, the Undergraduate Council's Student Affairs Committee (SAC) concluded elections to fill positions on ten student-Faculty committees Tuesday night.

SAC Chair John Paul Rollert '99 and Vice Chair Noah Z. Seton '99 presided over the meeting that began at 9:30 p.m. and ended when the results of the final election were announced at 1:17 a.m. yesterday morning.

Attendance fluctuated throughout the elections with about 50 people present during the most highly contested elections.

"Different Faculty committees ask SAC to find students to represent the undergraduate community," Rollert said. "The people who were elected tonight will consult with the Faculty on many issues that really affect our day to day lives."

Elections are open to all members of the student body, but only members of SAC are allowed to vote.

Those in attendance nominated candidates to fill the positions on each committee. Each candidate then gave a one-minute speech after which the floor was opened for questions. A maximum of three questions could be posed to each of the candidates.

The election for the Committee on House Life saw the most heated debate of the long evening. All of the candidates discussed randomization in their open minute.

Although the candidates' opinions on randomization differed, the students who were elected tended to focus on improving House life in spite of randomization.

"Randomization has taken a toll on House life, but I don't think we should focus on a total overhaul of the system," said newly-elected House Life Committee member Trevor S. Blake '00. "We should try to make the Houses the center of social life again."

Also elected to the Committee for House Life were C.J. Mahoney '00 and Eric M. Nelson '99.

In one of the more contested elections of the evening, Noah R. Freeman '98-'99, Kamil E. Redmond '99 and Stephen N. Smith '02 were elected to the Committee for Undergraduate Education (CUE). Smith was one of only four first-year students elected during the evening.

The CUE's domain includes all aspects of undergraduate education at Harvard, ranging from foreign language requirements to the price of textbooks at the Coop.

Many candidates said their primary concern was the quality of teaching fellows.

"I think that Harvard's greatest goal is to stretch the men and women of the College to their fullest abilities," said Redmond, who is also a Crimson editor. "Large sections and inexperienced TFs do not help us move towards this goal."

In the election for the Committee on the Core Curriculum, James T. Grimmelmann '99 and Sarah K. Hurwitz '99 were selected to represent the student body. Both have worked extensively to better the Core during their time at the College and look to continue this work.

The election to the Committee on College Life drew the most candidates and required a run-off to decide the last spot. Sterling P. Darling '01, Benjamin A. Rahn '99 and Chad A. Wathington '00 prevailed to take positions on the committee.

The Committee for College Life addresses matters that do not fall under the authority of the House masters. In the past the committee has dealt with the University's alcohol policy, among other issues.

"The purpose of the Committee for College Life is to examine issues that universally effect undergraduates," Darling said. "This year I would like to specifically focus on how the University can help student groups."

Three students--Rabia S. Belt '01, Allison D. Kent '99 and Rahn--were elected to the Committee on Advising and Counseling. The purpose of this committee is to improve the quality of both academic and nonacademic advising.

The need for more training at all levels of advising was a pervasive issue in the election.

"There are great inconsistencies in the way the various levels of the administration respond to students' problems," Rahn said. "This definitely needs to be addressed this year."

Matthew C. Ebbel '00, C. E. "Ted" Wright '01 and Fentrice D. Driskell '01 were elected to the Ivy Council.

Justin D. Lerer '99, who is a Crimson editor, and Rachel E. Barber '99 were elected to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Library Committee.

Nicholas J. Stone '99 was elected to the Athletics Committee.

Vladimir A. Kleyman '02, Steven J. Mitby '99 and Zhong Y. "Jimmy" Zha '02 were elected to the Commission of Inquiry.

Candice T. Player '02 was elected to the Committee on Loker.