U.C. Elects New Student Affairs Committee Chair

Regaining the office after a one-semester hiatus, Eric M. Nelson '99 was elected chair of the Undergraduate Council's Student Advisory Committee (SAC) last night.

Nelson, who is also a Crimson editor, supported Beth A. Stewart '00 and Samuel C. Cohen '00 in December's election for student body president and vice-president.

While former council president Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 and former SAC chair Diana L. Adair '98 favored an activist council, Nelson supported Stewart and Cohen's pledge to depoliticize the council and to focus on student services.

One of the council's three standing committees, SAC advocates on behalf of the student body to the administration. Recent SAC initiatives have included universal keycard access, core reform and revitalizing Loker Commons. SAC also elects delegates to student-faculty standing committees.

"I hope [my election] means the Student Affairs Committee will prove to be a vocal and strenuous advocate for student interest in the next year," Nelson said.

Nelson was chosen over Lilly J. Epstein '00, a council member since fall of 1996. Epstein was elected vice-chair of SAC later in the meeting.

Both the candidates' speeches and the questions posed to them centered around the issue of task forces in SAC.

Last semester, the committee under Adair membership participated in about ten task forces, which pursued diverse issues such as educational policy, adding gender neutrality to the University non-discrimination clause and administrative board reform.

Nelson bemoaned the committee's "excessive focus on task forces," saying that they were "taking away from the committee's strength, [which is] working together."

He proposed that a unified committee address a few high-priority issues and convey those key ideas to the administration.

Nelson also said he felt "persecuted by Harvard's system of requirements," by Harvard's system of requirements,"complaining that the current system "basicallyconspire[s] against students pursuing interestswith a passion."

Stressing that the entire undergraduatecurriculum is currently undergoing faculty review,Nelson emphasized the importance of making theundergraduate council's voice heard.

Epstein defended the use of task forces, butagreed that the system needed reform. She proposedto continue the task force model, but also tonarrow it.

"Too many people are acting in an uncoordinatedway," she said. Epstein proposed creating twosubcategories, one for college issues and one foradvocacy issues.

In other council business, the council electedthe new membership of the Campus Life Committee(CLC) on Sunday night.

Trevor S. Blake '00 and Fentrice D. Driskell'01 were chosen as co-chairs, Eli A. Poliakoff'00, vice-chair.

The CLC arranges student events and services,such as the Springfest and shuttle buses to theairport before vacations

Stressing that the entire undergraduatecurriculum is currently undergoing faculty review,Nelson emphasized the importance of making theundergraduate council's voice heard.

Epstein defended the use of task forces, butagreed that the system needed reform. She proposedto continue the task force model, but also tonarrow it.

"Too many people are acting in an uncoordinatedway," she said. Epstein proposed creating twosubcategories, one for college issues and one foradvocacy issues.

In other council business, the council electedthe new membership of the Campus Life Committee(CLC) on Sunday night.

Trevor S. Blake '00 and Fentrice D. Driskell'01 were chosen as co-chairs, Eli A. Poliakoff'00, vice-chair.

The CLC arranges student events and services,such as the Springfest and shuttle buses to theairport before vacations