Class of '96 Marshalls Named

Peter S. Cahn '96 and Miwa Powell '96 were notified yesterday that they had garnered top honors in elections for the 1996 Harvard and Radcliffe class marshalls.

Cahn, a Currier House resident, and Powell, a Winthrop House resident, were named first Harvard and first Radcliffe marshalls.

Currier House was disproportionately represented, as it's home to exactly half of the eight marshalls even though it is only one of 13 undergraduate houses.

"I am psyched, I am thrilled," Cahn said of being chosen as the top Harvard marshall.

Adams House resident Kitt Hirasaki '96 was named second Harvard marshall, Paul Cabana '96 of Currier House third marshall and Kareem Galib '96 of Mather House fourth marshall.

Susan S. Lee '96, of Currier House, was named second Radcliffe marshall, and Abim Thomas '96, also from Currier, is the third marshall. E. Amory Downes '96, of Dunster House, was named fourth marshall.

The first Harvard and Radcliffe marshalls will effectively serve lifelong terms as class presidents and chair all alumni meetings and events for their classes.

The second, third and fourth marshalls will assist the first marshalls and step in if those marshalls cannot fulfill their duties.

"I am very honored," Cabana said yesterday. "My initials are the same as Peter Cahn's and I'm right next to him [on the ballot] so I think people just got confused."

For now, class marshalls are responsible for planning this year's senior events and coordinating fundraising.

"I am constantly impressed at what a unique class we have and...in the diversity of interests," Downes said. "We must plan activities and reunions that are enjoyable for the whole class."

Cabana said he is excited to work with the marshalls in planning class events.

"I know Miwa and Peter very well and I think they are perfect for the jobs," he said. "I am very psyched for Currier House because I think we're very well represented."

Cahn said yesterday that due to the large number of marshalls from Currier House, its dining hall may become the class committee's temporary home--at least through this year.

"It's just so convenient, everyone lives right here," he said.

Cahn's influence on the future of his class already shows: two of the Radcliffe marshalls--Powell and Thomas--ran for their positions only at Cahn's urging.

"I did it because [Peter] recommended it," Thomas said. "I am very happy."

The results of the elections were posted at Wadsworth House and newly elected marshalls were also notified by phone yesterday afternoon.

"I was really thrilled," Lee said. "It was a cruel thing to make us wait over the weekend."

Lee said she hopes to boost attendance at senior events this spring. She said she also hopes to plan several new events.

One event that has been discussed by some marshalls is rescheduling the Yard Plate competition, a scavenger hunt, that was canceled for the class of 1996 during Freshman Week, in 1992.

Cahn said another goal is to rethink the way in which the class gift is presented.

"One thing we can do differently is instead of giving a lump sum of money, is to direct it to...something more specific to our class," Cahn said.

--Victoria E. M. Cain and Ariel R. Frank contributed to this report.

"I am very honored," Cabana said yesterday. "My initials are the same as Peter Cahn's and I'm right next to him [on the ballot] so I think people just got confused."

For now, class marshalls are responsible for planning this year's senior events and coordinating fundraising.

"I am constantly impressed at what a unique class we have and...in the diversity of interests," Downes said. "We must plan activities and reunions that are enjoyable for the whole class."

Cabana said he is excited to work with the marshalls in planning class events.

"I know Miwa and Peter very well and I think they are perfect for the jobs," he said. "I am very psyched for Currier House because I think we're very well represented."

Cahn said yesterday that due to the large number of marshalls from Currier House, its dining hall may become the class committee's temporary home--at least through this year.

"It's just so convenient, everyone lives right here," he said.

Cahn's influence on the future of his class already shows: two of the Radcliffe marshalls--Powell and Thomas--ran for their positions only at Cahn's urging.

"I did it because [Peter] recommended it," Thomas said. "I am very happy."

The results of the elections were posted at Wadsworth House and newly elected marshalls were also notified by phone yesterday afternoon.

"I was really thrilled," Lee said. "It was a cruel thing to make us wait over the weekend."

Lee said she hopes to boost attendance at senior events this spring. She said she also hopes to plan several new events.

One event that has been discussed by some marshalls is rescheduling the Yard Plate competition, a scavenger hunt, that was canceled for the class of 1996 during Freshman Week, in 1992.

Cahn said another goal is to rethink the way in which the class gift is presented.

"One thing we can do differently is instead of giving a lump sum of money, is to direct it to...something more specific to our class," Cahn said.

--Victoria E. M. Cain and Ariel R. Frank contributed to this report.