Female Council Members Criticize 'Old-Boy' Politics

Yesterday's Undergraduate Council meeting, which eventually pushed through substantive calendar reforms, was interrupted by an angry, internecine confrontation as several female council members assailed Vice Chair David L. Hanselman '94 for calling their criticism of the council's "old-boy" politics "sour grapes."

Council member Melissa Garza set the tone of the meeting, standing before the council with a grocery bag of grapes, which referred to Hanselman's letter to the editor in Friday's issue of The Crimson in which he said the "sour-grapes contingent" of women "perpetuates divisiveness within the council."

"We are simply trying to increase women's participation on the council," Garza said. "We're not fabricating an issue."

Garza said the letter was "a poor use of someone's position of leadership."

The heated exchange between Hanselman and leading female council members marks the first public airing of women's grievances about their treatment on the council. Before spring break, a group of female members had met in a secret meeting to discuss the role of women on the council.

Council member Hillary K. Anger '93 said this meeting provided a chance for women on the council to discuss the "horrible gender dynamics" between men and women on the council. "It would be hard for a man to be anything but defensive" at the meeting, she said.

Hanselman responded by acknowledging that the "tone of [his] letter was abrasive" and that he was "lash[ing] out at...exclusionary practices," but repeatedly said he stood by his letter and refused to apologize for it.

"You cannot hold a meeting that excludes people on the basis of gender," Hanselman said. He called those responsible for the meeting "perpetrators of divisiveness on the council. My intent was to get this out in the open."

Hanselman said he wrote his letter to The Crimson on his own initiative and stressed that it does not reflect the opinions of the council leadership. Council Chair Michael P. Boys '94 did not see the letter before it will published, Hanselman said.

Some council members expressed concern that Hanselman's letter might have given the impression that he was speaking for the entire council.

Beys, who did not chair the meeting because of a religious holiday, entered after the early discussion, scolding council members and preaching the importance of the student government's unity.

"We're engaged in a partisan civil war that's getting bloodier and bloodier every week," Beys said. He called for "an experiment in cooperation" during the next three weeks. "We've got to move forward," he said.

First-year council representative Cynthia D. Johnson '96 echoed Beys's comments, saying she was tired with the in-house bickering. "Do we make it a habit of being in at least one controversy per meeting?" Johnson asked the council.

Calendar Reform Recommended

After the initial barbs, the council returned to its slated business, passing a recommendation to the Faculty Council to reform radically the College's academic calendar by proposing to end the Fall term at Winter break.

All of January would be vacation time and the Spring term would remain unchanged, according to the resolution. Supporters of the recommendation cited a council poll which reported 70 percent support among undergraduates for the plans.

Former council Chair Malcolm A. Heinicke '93 questioned whether students were fully aware of the ramifications of the calender change, including effects on sports teams and reading and exam periods.

The council also passed a resolution asking the Harvard Coop to change professor's deadlines for giving book lists to the store to allow students more time to sell back books in the Spring. Council member Adam J. Hertzman '95 proposed the bill

Some council members expressed concern that Hanselman's letter might have given the impression that he was speaking for the entire council.

Beys, who did not chair the meeting because of a religious holiday, entered after the early discussion, scolding council members and preaching the importance of the student government's unity.

"We're engaged in a partisan civil war that's getting bloodier and bloodier every week," Beys said. He called for "an experiment in cooperation" during the next three weeks. "We've got to move forward," he said.

First-year council representative Cynthia D. Johnson '96 echoed Beys's comments, saying she was tired with the in-house bickering. "Do we make it a habit of being in at least one controversy per meeting?" Johnson asked the council.

Calendar Reform Recommended

After the initial barbs, the council returned to its slated business, passing a recommendation to the Faculty Council to reform radically the College's academic calendar by proposing to end the Fall term at Winter break.

All of January would be vacation time and the Spring term would remain unchanged, according to the resolution. Supporters of the recommendation cited a council poll which reported 70 percent support among undergraduates for the plans.

Former council Chair Malcolm A. Heinicke '93 questioned whether students were fully aware of the ramifications of the calender change, including effects on sports teams and reading and exam periods.

The council also passed a resolution asking the Harvard Coop to change professor's deadlines for giving book lists to the store to allow students more time to sell back books in the Spring. Council member Adam J. Hertzman '95 proposed the bill