Candidates' Debate Draws Few

Candidates for Undergraduate Council president and vice president debated tried-and-true topics including council depoliticization and voter apathy at last night's sparsely attended candidates' debate.

Presidential hopeful John A. Burton '01 attacked the student services focus championed by current council President Beth A. Stewart '00.

"If I came to Harvard to eat lunch, watch cable and not be misdiagnosed at [University Health Services], I'd very happy with the council," he said. "But since I came here as a human, with ideas that are sometimes political, I'd have to demand more from Harvard's student goverment than we've gotten this year."

Even Stewart's pick for this year's president, Noah Z. Seton '00, distanced himself from depoliticization.

"I think the idea of having student services as the focus of the council is a good one, but we have to expand what we mean by student services," he said.

Seton and his running mate Kamil E. Redmond '00 said their definition of student services includes Faculty diversity and ethnic studies.

Although most of the proposals offered by candidates last night were directly related to student life, some candidates said addressing political issues would get students interested in the council again.

"Everyone at Harvard is interested in activism," said presidential candidate M. Michelle Robinson '01, who argued activism could be "synthesized" with student services concerns.

Henry C. Quillen '00 said the council would be able to address political issues if it became more representative of the student body. He proposed enforcing mandatory office hours as a way to increase representatives' contact with constituents.

Other candidates advocated deeper structural reform.

Eduardo J. Dominguez '01 said if he is elected he will give House committees, concentrations and student groups seats on the council.

"I looked at the other candidates and none of them were proposing enough change to make the U.C. part of our lives," said Dominguez, who is running with vice-presidential candidate Angela A. Wu '01.

And T. Christopher King '01 said the council needs to change its focus entirely to emphasize building a sense of community for undergraduates.

"Our scope is not the U.C.; it's the health of this campus," said King, whose running mate is Fentrice D. Driskell '01.

But other candidates said the council must stick to concrete measures.

"The word 'community' is nice and it's something we've thrown around a lot this semester," said Redmond, who is a Crimson editor. "But we really need to start talking about substantive leadership [and] the things students talk about on campus."

Proposals offered by candidates struck similar themes, including advising reform, increased funding for student groups, the creation of ethnic studies programs and the construction of a student center.

But some candidates said their leadership abilities differentiated them from other candidates.

Trevor S. Blake '00 said he would embody the council in the same way Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 did during her presidency two years ago.

"We need someone that has the appeal that will reach out to all the segments of the student population," Blake said. Along with his running mate Nicholas J. Stone '00, Blake said he advocates lobbying the administration to give 1 percent of the annual College fund to student groups.

Other candidates said they would be more effective leaders because they are council outsiders.

"I'm...not a politician, which I think certainly helps," said Edward "Ted" A. Swasey '00, who is running with vice-presidential candidate Jared S. White '00. Swasey said the council should help student groups get started, serving as a clearinghouse for information on topics such as how to open a checking account.

Vice-presidential candidate Gerard Hammond '02 said serving as a male cheerleader for Harvard has given him the experience necessary to build community. He also said that as a first-year, he is best qualified to represent first-year's concerns.

Although fewer than 50 students attended the Institute of Politics-sponsored debate in Harvard Hall last night, candidates generated some excitement of their own.

Quillen attended dressed in his trademark "Scream" costume.

And rather than offering an opening statement, Robinson said simply "The Undergraduate Council" and then stood silently at the podium as her minute inched by, ending her speech with "dawn" after time was called.

Presidential candidates Jonathan Gruenhut '00 and David L. Levy '00 did not attend the debate

Other candidates said they would be more effective leaders because they are council outsiders.

"I'm...not a politician, which I think certainly helps," said Edward "Ted" A. Swasey '00, who is running with vice-presidential candidate Jared S. White '00. Swasey said the council should help student groups get started, serving as a clearinghouse for information on topics such as how to open a checking account.

Vice-presidential candidate Gerard Hammond '02 said serving as a male cheerleader for Harvard has given him the experience necessary to build community. He also said that as a first-year, he is best qualified to represent first-year's concerns.

Although fewer than 50 students attended the Institute of Politics-sponsored debate in Harvard Hall last night, candidates generated some excitement of their own.

Quillen attended dressed in his trademark "Scream" costume.

And rather than offering an opening statement, Robinson said simply "The Undergraduate Council" and then stood silently at the podium as her minute inched by, ending her speech with "dawn" after time was called.

Presidential candidates Jonathan Gruenhut '00 and David L. Levy '00 did not attend the debate