Freshman Council Is 'Social'; Does Not Affect School Police

The Freshman council fills a needed position each year, but the people affiliated with it don't always agree on what that position actually is.

While some freshmen term the council a "social event" committee, others say it can be used to promote communication within the class and take stands in University matters. But few deny the council is inefficient and has no great influence on the administration.

David Moore, council adviser for the last two years, said Tuesday the council is not an organization which "makes waves." During the time he has been working with it, it has only sponsored social events.

The council which meets once a week, is made up of students elected from the Yard dormitories. Moore said that although people initially approach it expecting a more active body, they will not say it is useless, since they do want class programs.

Burriss Young, associate dean of freshmen Alberta Arthurs, dean of freshmen, and Susan W. Lewis, assistant dean of freshmen, said yesterday they agree that each council's effectiveness is determined by the people leading it. Dean Young said the administration does not control the council in any way, but it does require all projects undertaken to self-supporting.

Young, Lewis, and Arthurs see the council as a body designed to bring the freshmen together and to provide information on matters of interest to freshmen.

Attempts to make the council more active in University policy have run into red tape. Richard I. Stessel '79, head of the council's advocacy committee last year, said he had tried to get freshmen involved in housing, meals, education and calendar questions, but after talking to students administration and faculty, hadn't had any success.

"There's a tendency toward 'if it's Harvard, it must be O.K.' For instance, students don't complain much about the University's late starting and ending dates because they figure it's part of the tradition of the place," Stessel said yesterday.

Stessel blamed many of the problems on the inefficiency of the council. He said he thinks a set procedure should be used at the meetings, instead of having people waste time talking about how to decide what they will decide.

William Friedman '79, chairman of the '75-'76 council, agreed the council does not run smoothly. He said a lot of people on the council had been on high school councils and developed cynicism when they realized they weren't doing anything differently. Friedman said the people who stayed with it last year did so mainly because they liked each other and enjoyed working together.

Disorganized

This year's council has not chosen any format to work in yet. Robert W. Jones '80, a representative from Matthe South, described the meetings as disorganized and wasted on details, but he still believes things will be accomplished when some order is attained.

Brian L. Meyer '80 said, less optimistically, "I don't think we have any power."

The council, which meets once a week, is made up of students elected from the Yard dormitories.