Undergraduate Council Presidential Race Kicks-Off

The race for Undergraduate Council president got off to a quick start yesterday, with aggressive postering, an early head-to-head debate and a well-attended kick-off event for one of the candidates.

Matt W. Mahan ’05 and his vice-presidential running mate Michael R. Blickstead ’05 pitched their platform in front of a crowd of more than 70 students in the Kirkland Junior Common Room last night.

Earlier in the day, Mahan squared off with fellow presidential candidate Aaron S. Byrd ’05 during a Black Men’s Forum (BMF) meeting.

The other two presidential candidates—Joshua A. Barro ’05 and Jason L. Lurie ’05—took a lower profile approach on the first day of the campaign, handing out fliers, going door-to-door and consulting with their “inner circle” of advisers.

Both said yesterday that the week-and-a-half long campaign will present ample opportunities to draw in voters, and that they didn’t think they had fallen behind.

“Frankly, Mike and Matt are overcompensating,” Lurie said of Mahan-Blickstead’s early efforts. “It’s easy to get volunteers to party and considerably harder to get volunteers to do actual work.”

At the BMF meeting, Byrd and Mahan described their platforms and took questions from members of the group with topics ranging from the need for expanded blocking groups to the council’s relationship with other student organizations.

On policy questions, it was hard to distinguish the candidates, who both pledged support for 12-member blocking groups, a black cultural center and increased diversity on the council.

BMF President Brandon M. Terry ’05 said that many blacks on campus feel that larger blocking groups could facilitate the emergence of a stronger black community.

“I think, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that [blocking group expansion] is a good idea,” Byrd said.

“I mean, I know I would be in the black House,” Byrd, who is white, joked.

When the topic turned to diversity on the council, Mahan was quick to point out that he comprises one-half of an all-white all-male ticket.

“I realize I’m running with a white guy and that’s not good,” Mahan said, noting that the council needs to reach out to become more representative of the student body.

According to Terry, Byrd may have won over the crowd with his magnetic personality.

“People were really excited about how down-to-earth he was. His demeanor and personality resonate most with people who feel left out in the Harvard community,” Terry said.

But Terry also noted that BMF members were impressed by Mahan’s grasp on the organizational structure of the council.

“What it basically comes down to is, can Byrd learn on the job,” he said, adding that the BMF has not yet endorsed a candidate.

Both candidates also took the chance yesterday to reflect on the tenure of the man they hope to succeed, current council President Rohit Chopra ’04.

Responding to a laundry list of projects Mahan cited involvement in, Byrd said the council has been essentially a one-man show under Chopra.

“Rohit doesn’t trust anyone on the council...No one else has done nothing,” Byrd said.

Later in the meeting, Mahan agreed in part.

“I trust the people around me, and I don’t think Rohit has done that effectively,” Mahan said.

But Mahan added that he thought Chopra was effective nonetheless.

At Kirkland House, Mahan expanded on the themes he had touched on with the BMF, outlining with running mate Blickstead a platform based around improving Harvard’s social and academic environment.

“My mission for next year is to make this a really strong community,” Mahan said.

Mahan said he and Blickstead would want the council to be an effective advocate for students in dealings with the College administration. He cited improved mental health services, financial aid and advising as important priorities.

On a smaller scale, among Mahan’s proposals was a campus-wide keg returning service, which would eliminate the need for individual trips back to Blanchard’s liquors in Allston on Sunday mornings.

Both Mahan and Blickstead said they were pleased with the turnout at last night’s rally, which was capped by cheers of “M&M” for Mike and Matt.

—Staff writer Ebonie D. Hazle can be reached at hazle@fas.harvard.edu.