Rawlins' Success Relies On Council's Record

Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 has a record that she can run on--and that her opponents can run against.

Nearly one year after she was elected vice president in the council's first-ever popular elections, Rawlins has thrown her hat into the ring as a presidential contender.

And most observers agree that Rawlins' success in the upcoming election will depend to a large extent on how students judge her success in promoting the "Students' Bill of Rights" platform she and President Robert M. Hyman '98 promised in the spring.

"For those on the U.C., I think it is a referendum on them. We will take whatever the results are as a judgment on the Hyman/Rawlins council," says council member Benjamin W. Hulse '99.

If elected, Rawlins says she will continue to focus on issues concerning women and minorities, as well as address campus security. Rawlins says she will promote council support of student groups and increase council responsiveness to student interests.

But many members of the council say that Rawlins had her shot, and didn't succeed.

"They've made progress on some things, but on a lot of points, they were just paying lip service," says council Secretary Michael J. Passante '99, who publicly backed Hyman and Rawlins in the spring, but is now endorsing Eric M. Nelson '99 for president.

In particular, Passante says the council has become more responsive to student interests, but has not been effective in addressing women and minorities.

Other council members vocally accuse Rawlins and Hyman of employing unfair political tactics in attempting to accomplish their goals.

"They've pushed [their agenda] through basically by frustrating people into submission," says council member Carsten M. Reichel '98.

Passante agrees, adding that during council meetings, Hyman and Rawlins consistently favor speakers who back their views.

"I approve of their goals, but not of their methods," says Passante. "There's still room for the opposition to express their opinion, but it's a little bit harder."

For her part, Rawlins says she and Hyman have been impartial while chairing meetings.

"I feel confident that all sides have been fairly treated," she says.

And she adds that has addressed all planks in her platform from the spring, and will continue to do so.

"It's difficult to judge what we've done this semester by the first six meetings," Rawlins says. "I would call it a success in the making."

"More of the activity is focused on on talking with the administration and not as much with passing U.C. legislation," she adds.

Some other council members agree. Nicola A. McKinney '99, for example, says a Rawlins presidency will succeed in supporting services, gender issues and safety.

"Lamelle is constantly more aware of those issues. She tries to reach out more to women and minorities," says McKinney.

Hulse adds that Rawlins has a great deal of support in the council.

"There is a large group on the council that is very solidly behind their program," says Hulse, who lauds Hyman and Rawlins' creation of the council's executive cabinet.

The cabinet is composed of ten directors, each of whom are charged with pursuing one of the ten points in "A Students' Bill of Rights."

"The executive cabinet is the living embodiment of the Bill of Rights," Rawlins says. "It's worked smoothly and only supplemented the existing structure."

Hulse says the executive cabinet has allowed new members to play an influential role on the council soon after joining.

"Most of the new members who are very involved are part of this executive cabinet," he says.

But Rawlins' opponents say that involvement in the council has declined since last year because of the factionalism that Hyman and Rawlins' leadership has fostered.

"This year the factions are made up of very small numbers of students," says Nelson, a Crimson editor who is the chair of the council's Student Affairs Committee.

"Most of the council sits by and watches as they fight amongst each other," he says.

Some council members now say that Rawlins has been designated to continue the program that she and Hyman began into the next election.

"People still see them as one and the same," Passante says.

And while Rawlins hasn't moved to separate herself from Hyman's legacy, she has promised to finish the job that she and Hyman started last spring

Some other council members agree. Nicola A. McKinney '99, for example, says a Rawlins presidency will succeed in supporting services, gender issues and safety.

"Lamelle is constantly more aware of those issues. She tries to reach out more to women and minorities," says McKinney.

Hulse adds that Rawlins has a great deal of support in the council.

"There is a large group on the council that is very solidly behind their program," says Hulse, who lauds Hyman and Rawlins' creation of the council's executive cabinet.

The cabinet is composed of ten directors, each of whom are charged with pursuing one of the ten points in "A Students' Bill of Rights."

"The executive cabinet is the living embodiment of the Bill of Rights," Rawlins says. "It's worked smoothly and only supplemented the existing structure."

Hulse says the executive cabinet has allowed new members to play an influential role on the council soon after joining.

"Most of the new members who are very involved are part of this executive cabinet," he says.

But Rawlins' opponents say that involvement in the council has declined since last year because of the factionalism that Hyman and Rawlins' leadership has fostered.

"This year the factions are made up of very small numbers of students," says Nelson, a Crimson editor who is the chair of the council's Student Affairs Committee.

"Most of the council sits by and watches as they fight amongst each other," he says.

Some council members now say that Rawlins has been designated to continue the program that she and Hyman began into the next election.

"People still see them as one and the same," Passante says.

And while Rawlins hasn't moved to separate herself from Hyman's legacy, she has promised to finish the job that she and Hyman started last spring