U.C. Elects Treasurer, Secretary

The elections of secretary and treasurer dominated the agenda of the Undergraduate Council's first meeting of the spring semester last night.

Ben W. Hulse '99, a council member from Eliot House, was elected secretary, replacing Michael J. Passante '99, who did not seek re-election.

"I want to be an information clearing-house," he said.

Hulse vowed to follow in Passante's footsteps by providing detailed minutes of the council's meetings in a timely fashion.

Beth A. Stewart '00, ~~a council member from Hollis, was elected treasurer, replacing John J. Appelbaum '97, who also did not seek re-election.

Stewart, while calling herself a libertarian, said she saw the student activities fee as a voluntary tax. As such, the council should not have second thoughts about spending money for the students' benefit.

"I believe in guilt-free spending," she said.

In new business, the council passed a resolution proposed by Enmi Sung '98. The proposal called for Harvard Dining Services to provide midnight snacks in the house dining halls and Annenberg throughout the semester as they did during reading and exam periods.

Although questions about the cost of such a move were raised by several council members, the resolution passed 55 to 1.

Sung said a petition drive in support of the measure would commence in the next few weeks. Students should expect to see tabling in their dining halls, she said.

The meeting also served as an official transition of power from the outgoing President Robert M. Hyman '98 to newly elected President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99.

Mark A. Price '98 assumed the vice-presidency, replacing Rawlins.

In a farewell speech, Hyman, who served as council president for the last three semesters, praised the transformation of the council during his tenure.

"We have earned legitimacy through our efforts to change Harvard policy and make Harvard a more welcoming environment," Hyman said. "This is precisely what students want their student government to do."

At the close of his speech, the former president received a standing ovation from the council.

In her opening remarks as council president, Rawlins acknowledged the existence of partisan tension on the council but vowed to listen and make herself available to all council members.

"I'm ready to put politics aside," she said. "I really want to get things done.

"We have earned legitimacy through our efforts to change Harvard policy and make Harvard a more welcoming environment," Hyman said. "This is precisely what students want their student government to do."

At the close of his speech, the former president received a standing ovation from the council.

In her opening remarks as council president, Rawlins acknowledged the existence of partisan tension on the council but vowed to listen and make herself available to all council members.

"I'm ready to put politics aside," she said. "I really want to get things done.