Turnout Soars for Council's Fall Elections

Approximately 2,400 undergraduates voted in this year’s Undergraduate Council (UC) elections, the largest turnout since electronic balloting was instituted 5 years ago, according to UC officials.

About half of all first-years voted in the election—the heaviest turnout among any class.

“It’s the highest since I’ve been at Harvard,” said UC president Paul A. Gusmorino ’02.

Chair of the UC Election Commission Kyle D. Hawkins `02 attributed the surge in turnout to an aggressive campaign to recruit candidates and inform people about the election.

Hawkins said postering efforts, tabling outside Annenburg and the Science Center and taking out ads in The Crimson likely fueled voter interest.

“More candidates are running and more people are showing an interest in the UC this year,” Hawkins said.

Voter turnout differed dramatically between houses. No candidates ran in Dudley House and in Mather House two candidates ran for three spots. In Winthrop House the election was among the most competitive, with 10 students vying for three spots.

Robert M. Gee ’02, who won a spot in the Winthrop election, said he was pleasantly surprised at a result he called somewhat unexpected.

“The two candidates who ran the most competitive postering campaign didn’t finish in the top three,” he said.

Gee said his campaign strategy was to send out a mass e-mail to his friends and urge them to vote.

Gee, who served on the UC last year, said he looked forward to working on Fallfest—an outdoor party in the Quad featuring several student bands—and the tailgate at the Harvard-Yale football game.

Luke R. Long ’03, also an incumbent, topped three other candidates in the Adams election, despite a relaxed campaigning style.

“I’m pretty laid back tonight,” Long said a few hours before the final votes were tallied. Long said one of his foremost tasks on the campaign trail was informing people when and how to vote.

While the turnout was higher than many can remember, not all students took the voting seriously.

“Big Bird,” “Satan’s Beast Child,” “Dude Where’s My Car,” and “Huck the master’s dog” all received write in votes in Winthrop House. Gusmorino reported that Rudy Guiliani was “by far” the most popular write-in candidate.

Gusmorino said one of the UC’s first challenges this semester will be the implementation of a fund that allows the 500 students who receive largest financial aid packages to apply for free tickets to campus events such as the CityStep dance.

Last year, the UC secured $20,000 for the program, but it still must finalize logistical issues, according to Gusmorino.

Gusmorino said that the Oct. 6 Fallfest is one of the first major projects the council will undertake this fall.