Liberals Form UC Activist Coalition

Leaders of the College's liberal community are organizing a movement they hope will radically change the scope and mission of the Undergraduate Council, politicizing the student government and refocusing it as a center of student activism.

The group, first organized last spring and known as the Progressive Undergraduate Council Coalition (PUCC), has already recruited 26 students to run for the council under its platform.

A general meeting, scheduled for today at 6 p.m. in Adams House, is expected to draw between 30 and 50 more interested students.

In interviews, PUCC leaders say one of the group's main purposes is expanding the diversity of the council.

For years, the council has been accused of being a network of white males.

But PUCC, spearheaded largely by editors of Perspective, a campus liberal publication, has met with members of several ethnic minority groups, including the Asian American Association, RAZA, the South Asian Association and the Black Students Association, according to PUCC organizer Jedidiah S. Purdy '97.

The group has even received permission to table at the first meeting of the Asian American Association (AAA). There PUCC will recruit alongside AAA's committees and other clubs of interest to AAA members, says Julie C. Suk '97, another PUCC organizer.

In addition to organizing a more diverse council, PUCC leaders stress they are interested in promoting campus discussion and debate.

Purdy and Suk say they hope to stimulate discussion of campus issues by sponsoring panels and other forums designed for education and civil debate.

Purdy adds that the group's ideal is to transform council elections and meetings into debates involving the "coherent articulation of definite positions."

"What PUCC will bring to the council...is a commitment to tackling issues that the council has shied away from before, issues that the council has ignored because they've been considered too controversial," says David V. Bonfili '96, an organizer of PUCC who resigned from the council last year after more than two years of service.

PUCC leaders also want to make campus activism more "accessible," says Suk.

That would entail making the council a source of information on campus issues, subsidizing ad hoc activist groups with the council's grant money and using the council itself to take up issues such as ethnic studies, Purdy says.

Leaders of PUCC say they hope these efforts taken together--"productive" campus dialogue, better representation of minorities and enhanced activism--will force the administration to take the council and student interests more seriously.

Those interests have a decidedly liberal bent, PUCC leaders say.

Among the items identified in interviews and in a provisional platform (see graphic, page 3) are:

* issues of student empowerment, including demands that students serve on all faculty and administrative committees "making decisions that affect undergraduate life."

* responsible social practices by the University, including calls for fairer labor practices, expanded environmental awareness and divestiture from companies "complicit with human rights abuses."

* reform in the College, including broadening of the Core curriculum, increased offerings in ethnic studies, student participation in tenure decisions and calendar reform.

So far, PUCC's efforts have been well-received by members of groups that have met with PUCC.

"I think that it is a group of very dedicated, organized individuals who would like to see a more proactive Undergraduate Council," says Royce C. Lin '96, co-chair of the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Student Organization, while emphasizing that he does not speak for that club. "I think that PUCC's concerns are very legitimate, very pressing and urgent."

PUCC has also drawn the interest of students who believe the group is the best chance yet for effecting real change in the council.

"I think this is the first time we've really seen potential for reform." says Ross Frisbie '96, who says he will run for the council under PUCC's umbrella. "They're spending the time and energy and thought in this, and they have specific ideas."

But this focus on activism has not been embraced uniformly.

In particular, some campus conservatives said they are not pleased with PUCC's methods or agenda.

Amanda P. Williams '96, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Alliance, says it is a "shame" that the council has become so politicized, and adds that PUCC will only make things worse.

"It ends up polarizing the student body and making it increasingly difficult for conservative groups on campus to be productive," Williams says.

She also expresses fears that PUCC's ideology may threaten the council's traditionally content-blind grants process.

"I can imagine how difficult it's going to be for my group, for instance, when we're applying for U.C. money and this group [PUCC] is in place," she says.

Even among those close to PUCC, there is an element of doubt whether a takeover of the council is in the best interests of the student body.

"I think it's very important that the council not become discredited to the extent that it appears to be just a bunch of wacky liberal intellectuals, which is basically what PUCC is," says an individual close to PUCC who asked not to be identified.

"I think there are just a lot of problems if it's perceived that the radical left is in charge of the non-partisan grants process or is representing the student body before the administration," the source adds.

Presidential Politics

PUCC leaders deny they have even considered whether to sponsor a candidate in the council's presidential election.

"I swear it's not something we've talked about as an organization," Purdy says.

Asked if he himself has his eyes on a top council office, Purdy says: "I find it rather distasteful."

This fall's elections will likely be the last before College-wide elections of executives are implemented.

Sources both close to and within PUCC point to Purdy as the most likely PUCC candidate, although none would confirm whether the coalition will indeed sponsor a candidate at all.

Some close to PUCC say they believe Purdy may not be dynamic enough to be a serious presidential contender.

"He has a different type of leadership, but I don't know if it'll play in front of 80 people," says one member of PUCC, before adding: "I hope it does."

Bonfili, also viewed as a potential candidate, says he has "no intention" of running for any executive board position, and says he is undecided about whether to run for the council at all.

At least one council leader, Vide President Justin C. Label '97, says he is impressed with what he has seen of PUCC's organization.

Label, a presidential candidate who is the council's highest ranking officer right now, says he doesn't see the group as a threat to his political ambitions.

P.U.C.C. Positions

The Progressive Undergraduate Council Coalition (PUCC) is debating a platform with a broad, activist, liberal agenda. Some of the plates described on a provisional copy and in interviews call for:

Faculty Reform

increased diversity in the faculty

Student input on tenure decisions

Hiring of scholars specializing in ethnic and gay studies, among others

Role of the U.C.

Diveralification of the U.C. by recruiting more minorities and women to run for office

Facilitation of student activism by providing resources for self-advocacy and subsiding ad hoc issue-ori-onted groups

Student input on every faculty and administrative committee with jurie-diction over issues affecting student life

College and Curricular Reform

Re-overlustion of the Core curriculum

Changes to the academic calendar so students take fall semester exams before winter vacation

Maintanance of current student, aid levels

Reduction of section sizes

Social Responsibility

Divestiture by the University from companies "complicit in human rights abuses and environmental degradation"

More fair labor practices by the University

Raised consciousness about the environment across the University

Source: The Harvard Crimso

In addition to organizing a more diverse council, PUCC leaders stress they are interested in promoting campus discussion and debate.

Purdy and Suk say they hope to stimulate discussion of campus issues by sponsoring panels and other forums designed for education and civil debate.

Purdy adds that the group's ideal is to transform council elections and meetings into debates involving the "coherent articulation of definite positions."

"What PUCC will bring to the council...is a commitment to tackling issues that the council has shied away from before, issues that the council has ignored because they've been considered too controversial," says David V. Bonfili '96, an organizer of PUCC who resigned from the council last year after more than two years of service.

PUCC leaders also want to make campus activism more "accessible," says Suk.

That would entail making the council a source of information on campus issues, subsidizing ad hoc activist groups with the council's grant money and using the council itself to take up issues such as ethnic studies, Purdy says.

Leaders of PUCC say they hope these efforts taken together--"productive" campus dialogue, better representation of minorities and enhanced activism--will force the administration to take the council and student interests more seriously.

Those interests have a decidedly liberal bent, PUCC leaders say.

Among the items identified in interviews and in a provisional platform (see graphic, page 3) are:

* issues of student empowerment, including demands that students serve on all faculty and administrative committees "making decisions that affect undergraduate life."

* responsible social practices by the University, including calls for fairer labor practices, expanded environmental awareness and divestiture from companies "complicit with human rights abuses."

* reform in the College, including broadening of the Core curriculum, increased offerings in ethnic studies, student participation in tenure decisions and calendar reform.

So far, PUCC's efforts have been well-received by members of groups that have met with PUCC.

"I think that it is a group of very dedicated, organized individuals who would like to see a more proactive Undergraduate Council," says Royce C. Lin '96, co-chair of the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Student Organization, while emphasizing that he does not speak for that club. "I think that PUCC's concerns are very legitimate, very pressing and urgent."

PUCC has also drawn the interest of students who believe the group is the best chance yet for effecting real change in the council.

"I think this is the first time we've really seen potential for reform." says Ross Frisbie '96, who says he will run for the council under PUCC's umbrella. "They're spending the time and energy and thought in this, and they have specific ideas."

But this focus on activism has not been embraced uniformly.

In particular, some campus conservatives said they are not pleased with PUCC's methods or agenda.

Amanda P. Williams '96, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Alliance, says it is a "shame" that the council has become so politicized, and adds that PUCC will only make things worse.

"It ends up polarizing the student body and making it increasingly difficult for conservative groups on campus to be productive," Williams says.

She also expresses fears that PUCC's ideology may threaten the council's traditionally content-blind grants process.

"I can imagine how difficult it's going to be for my group, for instance, when we're applying for U.C. money and this group [PUCC] is in place," she says.

Even among those close to PUCC, there is an element of doubt whether a takeover of the council is in the best interests of the student body.

"I think it's very important that the council not become discredited to the extent that it appears to be just a bunch of wacky liberal intellectuals, which is basically what PUCC is," says an individual close to PUCC who asked not to be identified.

"I think there are just a lot of problems if it's perceived that the radical left is in charge of the non-partisan grants process or is representing the student body before the administration," the source adds.

Presidential Politics

PUCC leaders deny they have even considered whether to sponsor a candidate in the council's presidential election.

"I swear it's not something we've talked about as an organization," Purdy says.

Asked if he himself has his eyes on a top council office, Purdy says: "I find it rather distasteful."

This fall's elections will likely be the last before College-wide elections of executives are implemented.

Sources both close to and within PUCC point to Purdy as the most likely PUCC candidate, although none would confirm whether the coalition will indeed sponsor a candidate at all.

Some close to PUCC say they believe Purdy may not be dynamic enough to be a serious presidential contender.

"He has a different type of leadership, but I don't know if it'll play in front of 80 people," says one member of PUCC, before adding: "I hope it does."

Bonfili, also viewed as a potential candidate, says he has "no intention" of running for any executive board position, and says he is undecided about whether to run for the council at all.

At least one council leader, Vide President Justin C. Label '97, says he is impressed with what he has seen of PUCC's organization.

Label, a presidential candidate who is the council's highest ranking officer right now, says he doesn't see the group as a threat to his political ambitions.

P.U.C.C. Positions

The Progressive Undergraduate Council Coalition (PUCC) is debating a platform with a broad, activist, liberal agenda. Some of the plates described on a provisional copy and in interviews call for:

Faculty Reform

increased diversity in the faculty

Student input on tenure decisions

Hiring of scholars specializing in ethnic and gay studies, among others

Role of the U.C.

Diveralification of the U.C. by recruiting more minorities and women to run for office

Facilitation of student activism by providing resources for self-advocacy and subsiding ad hoc issue-ori-onted groups

Student input on every faculty and administrative committee with jurie-diction over issues affecting student life

College and Curricular Reform

Re-overlustion of the Core curriculum

Changes to the academic calendar so students take fall semester exams before winter vacation

Maintanance of current student, aid levels

Reduction of section sizes

Social Responsibility

Divestiture by the University from companies "complicit in human rights abuses and environmental degradation"

More fair labor practices by the University

Raised consciousness about the environment across the University

Source: The Harvard Crimso