Candidates and Voters Say the UC's Elections Are Underpublicized

Although the Undergraduate Council was a co-sponsor of a recent event known as HYPE '96, it hasn't exactly been the embodiment thereof.

The general elections for the council began yesterday with little fanfare, and many students remained unaware or uninterested in the elections.

"Publicity has been a little low; I think everyone on the U.C. will admit that," said Marco B. Simons '97, a former council executive who is running for the council this year.

Students can vote for their house or Yard district representatives by logging into the "fas" network and typing "ucvote" at a "%" prompt.

The elections will continue until 5 p.m. Friday.

Voter turnout as of last night was low, ranging from one vote cast in Dudley House to 94 in the Canaday-Union district.

Members of the council's Election Commission said they expect a larger turnout towards the end of the voting period.

But despite the commission's promises, candidates were growing impatient yesterday.

Robert R. Porter '00 criticized the lack of general election information distributed to the public and suggested that the council attempt to educate more first-years on the role of the council.

"Not many freshmen know what the U.C. is about, what it does, or that the election is going on," said Porter, who is running in the North Yard district.

Commission and council members said students will see a great deal more publicity efforts over the next few days.

"I think now that most election details are settled, things will proceed a lot more smoothly," Simons said.

Gregory M. Heestand '98, the Election Commission member in charge of publicity, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Of course, some of the houses, such as Lowell, Winthrop, Mather and Dunster, have uncontested elections.

Election Commission member Stephen E. Weinberg '99 encouraged voting in these districts anyway.

"I want people even in uncompet- itive districts to feel like a part of the process," Weinberg said.

While voting in these districts will not affect which representatives sit on the council, their ranking will affect delegation chairs and representatives' choice of committees, Weinberg said.

Some council members disagreed with the sentiment that there is little interest in the elections.

Council Vice President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 said most people with whom she has talked are aware of the elections.

"I've only gotten a positive impression so far from people I've talked to," she said.

But even the council's usually upbeat president, Robert M. Hyman '98, said that he was "not thrilled" with the publicity, adding that he decided last night to personally step in in an effort to improve the situation.

Hyman refused to compare publicity in this year's elections to that of previous years, and declined to comment on whether he blamed Heestand for this year's problems.

He did say, however, that most publicity for the council's elections normally comes from the candidates themselves, "and in that respect, this year is no different."

Campaign efforts from the candidates have ranged from intense to easygoing.

"I think a lot of campaigning has been very aggressive," said Amy R. deIpolyi '00, nothing the large number of campaign posters she has seen around the Yard.

"Not mine though," the council candidate added. "I haven't put up a single poster yet. I don't know why."

Council members said they hope that the move to on-line elections for all districts will promote greater turnout.

Last fall, voter turnout averaged 25 percent in the houses and 60 percent in the Yard districts. The higher number in the first-year elections was mostly attributed to the convenience of on-line elections.

"It couldn't be easier for people to vote," Rawlins said. "This is the kind of open access we want people to have [to their representatives].

While voting in these districts will not affect which representatives sit on the council, their ranking will affect delegation chairs and representatives' choice of committees, Weinberg said.

Some council members disagreed with the sentiment that there is little interest in the elections.

Council Vice President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 said most people with whom she has talked are aware of the elections.

"I've only gotten a positive impression so far from people I've talked to," she said.

But even the council's usually upbeat president, Robert M. Hyman '98, said that he was "not thrilled" with the publicity, adding that he decided last night to personally step in in an effort to improve the situation.

Hyman refused to compare publicity in this year's elections to that of previous years, and declined to comment on whether he blamed Heestand for this year's problems.

He did say, however, that most publicity for the council's elections normally comes from the candidates themselves, "and in that respect, this year is no different."

Campaign efforts from the candidates have ranged from intense to easygoing.

"I think a lot of campaigning has been very aggressive," said Amy R. deIpolyi '00, nothing the large number of campaign posters she has seen around the Yard.

"Not mine though," the council candidate added. "I haven't put up a single poster yet. I don't know why."

Council members said they hope that the move to on-line elections for all districts will promote greater turnout.

Last fall, voter turnout averaged 25 percent in the houses and 60 percent in the Yard districts. The higher number in the first-year elections was mostly attributed to the convenience of on-line elections.

"It couldn't be easier for people to vote," Rawlins said. "This is the kind of open access we want people to have [to their representatives].