Three Council Ballot Envelopes Stolen

Ballots from three districts in last week's Undergraduate Council elections were stolen from the council offices yesterday, and other ballot envelopes were ransacked.

No sign of forced entry had been made at the council's offices in Canaday B, according to council officers.

Every council member has keys to the office and the conference room where the ballots had been stowed.

Maya G. Prabhu '94 said the offices were unlocked, the conference room light was on and the ballots were strewn all over the office when she entered the office yesterday afternoon.

Outgoing Vice Chair Malcolm A. Heinicke '93, who organized this fall's elections, said the theft would not affect the validity of election tabulations, which most council officers agreed were meticulously conducted.

Yesterday, J.D. LaRock '95, outgoing council publicity director, placed the blame for the stolen ballots on Heinicke, claiming he had not taken sufficient precautions to keep them safe.

LaRock said that the ballots were taken to prevent the recount of several close races, and he alleged it may have been "an inside job."

LaRock was unseated last week at the Quincy elections, If he had won, he would have run against Heinicke for council chair.

According to outgoing Secretary Peter K. Lee '94, who lost the Kirkland House race by less than one point, Heinicke had offered to recount the ballots as a courtesy to Lee.

Lee said he planned to request a recount of the Kirkland ballot this week.

Heinicke denied LaRock's charges, insisting he had performed his duties as the election coordinator properly.

"The ballots were behind locked doors," Heinicke said. "Someone who comes into the locked office can get at them just like they can get anything else in the office."

In addition, he noted that of the three houses whose ballots were stolen, the elections were close only at Kirkland House.

The ballots at Kirkland had already been tabulated at least twice, according to council officials.

Council leaders yesterday rallied behindHeinicke, dismissing LaRock's allegations.

"I have complete faith in Malcolm'scompetence," said outgoing council Chair David A.Aronberg '93. "It's not Malcolm's fault if somethief managed to break in through the double locksand steal the ballots."

"This particular episode should not be an issuein the campaign," said Prabhu. "It should not beused to judge his performance as vice chair."

But LaRock insisted that yesterday's theftsmacked of wrongdoing among the council's topranks.

"It seems to me that there has been some sortof collusion somewhere," he said. "It's verydisturbing."

"This whole issue speaks of what's wrong withthe council," LaRock said. "That's what's wrongwith the council: a lack of responsibility."

In addition to poor security, LaRock saidseveral mistakes were made on the election ballot.Dunster House candidate Andrew W. Shuman '93, whowas elected as a representative, appeared as"Adam Shaman" on the ballot.

Yard candidate Rachel A. Osten '96, whose namewas spelled "Rachel Ostev," has filed a formalcomplaint to Heinicke after no attempt was made tocorrect the mistake

Council leaders yesterday rallied behindHeinicke, dismissing LaRock's allegations.

"I have complete faith in Malcolm'scompetence," said outgoing council Chair David A.Aronberg '93. "It's not Malcolm's fault if somethief managed to break in through the double locksand steal the ballots."

"This particular episode should not be an issuein the campaign," said Prabhu. "It should not beused to judge his performance as vice chair."

But LaRock insisted that yesterday's theftsmacked of wrongdoing among the council's topranks.

"It seems to me that there has been some sortof collusion somewhere," he said. "It's verydisturbing."

"This whole issue speaks of what's wrong withthe council," LaRock said. "That's what's wrongwith the council: a lack of responsibility."

In addition to poor security, LaRock saidseveral mistakes were made on the election ballot.Dunster House candidate Andrew W. Shuman '93, whowas elected as a representative, appeared as"Adam Shaman" on the ballot.

Yard candidate Rachel A. Osten '96, whose namewas spelled "Rachel Ostev," has filed a formalcomplaint to Heinicke after no attempt was made tocorrect the mistake