Institute of Politics Committee Examines Rules of Procedure

The Student Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Institute of Politics set up a six-person ad hoc committee last Tuesday to revise its rules on procedure, three weeks after a controversy over SAC member selection.

Peter Halpin '76, co-chairman of the ad hoc committee, yesterday called the present system of procedure "archaic" and said he would try to open the rules committee meetings to all students in an effort to remove the "elitist image" of the SAC.

"The credibility of the SAC as a functioning arm of the student body is at stake," Halpin said.

The decision to review regulations came in the wake of a dispute over the readmission on March 2 of David Fink '74, a first year law student.

Fink had to re-apply for admission to the SAC after he graduated last year. He was rejected under the normal screening process, but the SAC accepted him at a later meeting at which a quorum was not present and members suspended regular procedure.

Nancy J. Sinsabaugh '76, chairwoman of the SAC, said yesterday that the ad hoc committee would attempt to clarify "ambiguities" in the policy of re-admitting old members and suspending normal procedure.

Both Sinsabaugh and Gerald Meisel, a third-year law student and a co-chairman of the ad hoc committee, said that members revise the rules almost every year.

Sinsabaugh said that the SAC is no more elite than any other Harvard organization restricting its membership. "Most students, except for politicians, aren't interested in the SAC," she noted.