Computer Glitch Forces Council To Void Elections

"Frustrating" is how they described it. Most candidates for the Undergraduate Council said they think the nullification of last week's general election results will decrease voter turn-out and could increase student apathy toward the council.

While few blamed the council for the computer glitches that will force a second election next week, many said the problems will only give council critics more fodder for their assertions that the organization is inefficient.

"It will add to the subconscious sense that the U.C. is somewhat incompetent and they don't do anything very effectively," said Christian J. Westra '01, who is running in Dunster House. He added that he feels these criticisms are not entirely warranted.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III agreed that the council "may certainly run therisk" of losing student interest.

After convincing students to vote once, manycandidates worry that constituents will not takethe time to type "ucvote" again at the fas promptand select their representatives.

"There's no question it will randomize thevotes of the election," said Jonathan R. Lavy '01,a candidate in Winthrop House. "The main worry forme is that you'll practically have nobodyremembering to vote, and it'll be potluck who winsor loses."

But others said there was generally littleinterest in the council elections, and thenullification and revote will not affect thecampus' view of the election.

"I don't really think it will affect anything,"said Rachel E. Barber '99, who is running in AdamsHouse. "People don't have a whole lot of interestin it anyway."

The election commission has decided thatstudents will no longer be able to poster tobolster their canidacies, citing financialconcerns as the primary reason.

For first-year elections, which are morecontested than the upperclass races, the delayprovides candidates extra time to speak with moreconstituents.

"When you're given more time that might be abetter thing, because then you can meet morepeople," said Connie S. Kim '02, a resident ofWeld Hall.

First-years expressed concern that the extraweek will prolong the difficulty of balancingheavy campaigning with adjusting to their firstyear.

"It's sort of hard to deal with. A lot of ushave been trying to get things on trackacademically and now it's more time to spendcampaigning," said Alexander X. Berrio Matamoros'02 of Canaday Hall.

Berrio Matamoros also said other first-yearsmay have their first impression of the counciltarnished by this event.

"The U.C. might be starting now with an uphillbattle ahead because this was their firstimpression," he said.

Candidates said it is their job to publicizetheir individual races but expressed "annoyance"that they have to keep voter interest high.

"It's unfortunate that everybody put all thiseffort into getting the election going,campaigning and voting, that all this energy wentinto it and now we have to turn around to redowhat we did before," said Jennifer A. Freeman '00,a candidate in Lowell House.

Council President Beth A. Stewart '00 saidmembers will try to campaign more aggressivelythan before to encourage students to revote. Shesaid they plan to advertise in The Crimson, tableand to poster around the campus to alert studentsthat they must vote at the end of next week.

Candidates are not pointing fingers at thecouncil.

"It's not Beth Stewart's fault. It's HCS'sfault. It's annoying that we paid $3,000 to writea program that's faulty," Barber said.

Some council members say the efforts of theElection Commission to try to rectify the problemshould be acknowledged.

"If anything, people will realize the ElectionCommission is very willing to correct problems,"said Sterling P. A. Darling '01, a resident ofCurrier House

After convincing students to vote once, manycandidates worry that constituents will not takethe time to type "ucvote" again at the fas promptand select their representatives.

"There's no question it will randomize thevotes of the election," said Jonathan R. Lavy '01,a candidate in Winthrop House. "The main worry forme is that you'll practically have nobodyremembering to vote, and it'll be potluck who winsor loses."

But others said there was generally littleinterest in the council elections, and thenullification and revote will not affect thecampus' view of the election.

"I don't really think it will affect anything,"said Rachel E. Barber '99, who is running in AdamsHouse. "People don't have a whole lot of interestin it anyway."

The election commission has decided thatstudents will no longer be able to poster tobolster their canidacies, citing financialconcerns as the primary reason.

For first-year elections, which are morecontested than the upperclass races, the delayprovides candidates extra time to speak with moreconstituents.

"When you're given more time that might be abetter thing, because then you can meet morepeople," said Connie S. Kim '02, a resident ofWeld Hall.

First-years expressed concern that the extraweek will prolong the difficulty of balancingheavy campaigning with adjusting to their firstyear.

"It's sort of hard to deal with. A lot of ushave been trying to get things on trackacademically and now it's more time to spendcampaigning," said Alexander X. Berrio Matamoros'02 of Canaday Hall.

Berrio Matamoros also said other first-yearsmay have their first impression of the counciltarnished by this event.

"The U.C. might be starting now with an uphillbattle ahead because this was their firstimpression," he said.

Candidates said it is their job to publicizetheir individual races but expressed "annoyance"that they have to keep voter interest high.

"It's unfortunate that everybody put all thiseffort into getting the election going,campaigning and voting, that all this energy wentinto it and now we have to turn around to redowhat we did before," said Jennifer A. Freeman '00,a candidate in Lowell House.

Council President Beth A. Stewart '00 saidmembers will try to campaign more aggressivelythan before to encourage students to revote. Shesaid they plan to advertise in The Crimson, tableand to poster around the campus to alert studentsthat they must vote at the end of next week.

Candidates are not pointing fingers at thecouncil.

"It's not Beth Stewart's fault. It's HCS'sfault. It's annoying that we paid $3,000 to writea program that's faulty," Barber said.

Some council members say the efforts of theElection Commission to try to rectify the problemshould be acknowledged.

"If anything, people will realize the ElectionCommission is very willing to correct problems,"said Sterling P. A. Darling '01, a resident ofCurrier House