Progressivism Splits Seton, Redmond

Less than 20 years old, the Undergraduate Council is experiencing that typical teenage angst--an identity crisis.

A debate that many thought would be resolved when Council President Noah Z. Seton '00 and vice president Kamil E. Redmond '00 were elected, the tug-of-war between political activism and providing student services, refuses to disappear quietly into the night.

COLLEGE

"It's an argument that's been discussed for two years," Redmond said at a recent meeting.

"Is the role of the council to deal with fro-yo in Annenberg, or China? With Burma or a student center?" she said. "I think the council can do both."

But Seton is expected to address the council tonight, where he will attempt to rein the council in with a call for a stronger focus on student services.

Council leaders touted a recent $25,000 allocation towards a new student center as a continuation of a student-services focus.

However, passage at the last meeting of a bill endorsing same-sex marriage legislations, tonight's proposed divestment bill and legislation on next Sunday's docket that endorses bringing the Reserve Offices Training Corps (ROTC) back to Harvard have upset the tenuous balance and sparked venomous debate in the council.

After an ear of "depoliticization" and grapes in the dining halls, the pendulum appears to be swinging again. And the two council leaders--who worked to present a united front on Election Day-are now sending different signals on how the organization's time should be spent.

United We Stand?

In January of this year, the council was fighting of frozen yogurt under President Beth A. Stewart '00 and Vice President Samuel C. Cohen '00, who broke a recent tread of progressivism with an emphasis on student serves (see sidebar, page A-5).

When the Seton-Redmond ticket won the elections last fall, many in the council expected more of the same--an emphasis on issues that have a direct, visible impact on students, thereby leaving political activism to other campus organizations.

"Beth and Sam's reign was certainly felt Noah and Kamil's reign would be a continuation of that," said Aurelio Torre '00, a Currier House representative.

Seton and Redmond said as much in December.

"Kamil and I share the idea that there are some issues the council deals best with the others student groups deal best with," Seton said.

"Ethnic Studies Action Coalition and the [Progressive Students' Labor Movement] will address progressive issues more fully than the U.C. ever can," Redmond said.

So, despite the potential conflict between Seton's reputation of spearheading projects like "fly-by" lunches and Redmond's history of progressivisms, their campaign strongly emphasized student services.

"These are the types of issues that we have worked on...and that I feel the council should spend most of its time on," Seton said last month, referring to current projects like the student center campaign, investigations into University Health Services and negotiations for lower telephone rates.

The Great Divide

However, recent legislation such as the same-sex marriage bill and a recent bill affirming a student's right to free speech are eating up council minutes. And Redmond and Seton are beginning to conflict on whether it's a positive trend.

The most visible split between them occurred during discussion of a recent billsupporting same-sex marriage. In a vote laternullified, Seton broke a tie by voting against thelegislation. Redmond was a cosponsor of the bill.

Asked about her support of the politicallegislation, Redmond said she felt it belonged onthe docket.

"I think both of us see the council as animportant force for student change...I have alarger view of what student change means," shesaid.

"There are students that are interested inSpringfest and student services. Then there arepeople who are interested in political bills thatcall for the U.C. to take a stand on a politicalissue," she added.

But Seton is less than thrilled with thereopened progressive scope.

"Members flood the general meetings withlegislation that can only accomplish any thing (ifit even does that) by setting out a council-widepolitical 'stance' on an issue," he wrote in ane-mail message. "I think we'd serve the studentsbetter by...lobbying on specific issues thataffect the Harvard life of Harvard students."

"I do think we need to readjust our focus andput double effort and concentration on the issuesthat we can facilitate change on, " he added.

Seton said he hopes to accomplish this in hisaddress tonight.

Constituents are apparently noticing thedisparity between campaign promises and recentcouncil activity.

John I. Nevin '01 said he e-mailed Redmond, oneof his Pforzheimer House representatives,frustrated that she had promoted progressivelegislation despite her campaign platform.

"The Undergraduate Council's role is torepresent our needs to the administration," hesaid in an interview. "We have the [Institute ofPolitics], the College Democrats andRepublicans... and I believe that outside politicsis their job."

Nevin said it is impossible for one body torepresent the diversity of opinions across campus.

Up in Arms

The council is learning that lesson now--with abill that endorses a Harvard-based ROTC program.Debate of the bill spawned over 130 e-mailmessages to the council's mailing list beforespring break--on topics ranging from the Ku KluxKlan to the "current science on homosexuality."

"The main reasoning behind the bill is mostlyto try to repudiate the guilt-by-association thatis currently the policy we have towards studentsin ROTC," said Torre, a co-sponsor of thelegislation, which, if approved, would create atask force to work with the administration on theissue.

Currently, Harvard students who wish toparticipate in ROTC must travel to MIT to do so.The University banned ROTC from campus in 1969,when tensions over the Vietnam War enraged studentactivists. In 1994, the University stoppedpayments to MIT for the ROTC program, citingconcerns about discrimination against gaystudents.

Some students say the success of Sunday's billwould be indicative of where the council'spriorities lie.

"I would agree that if this bill fails, it willdemonstrate that the council is more committed totaking principled stances on controversial issuesrather than serving students," said David A.Campbell '00, who supported the legislation in ane-mail message to the list.A-6CLASHCrimsonGrant S. QuashaALL IN FAVOR: The UndergraduateCouncil now faces leaders divided over theorganization's direction.

Asked about her support of the politicallegislation, Redmond said she felt it belonged onthe docket.

"I think both of us see the council as animportant force for student change...I have alarger view of what student change means," shesaid.

"There are students that are interested inSpringfest and student services. Then there arepeople who are interested in political bills thatcall for the U.C. to take a stand on a politicalissue," she added.

But Seton is less than thrilled with thereopened progressive scope.

"Members flood the general meetings withlegislation that can only accomplish any thing (ifit even does that) by setting out a council-widepolitical 'stance' on an issue," he wrote in ane-mail message. "I think we'd serve the studentsbetter by...lobbying on specific issues thataffect the Harvard life of Harvard students."

"I do think we need to readjust our focus andput double effort and concentration on the issuesthat we can facilitate change on, " he added.

Seton said he hopes to accomplish this in hisaddress tonight.

Constituents are apparently noticing thedisparity between campaign promises and recentcouncil activity.

John I. Nevin '01 said he e-mailed Redmond, oneof his Pforzheimer House representatives,frustrated that she had promoted progressivelegislation despite her campaign platform.

"The Undergraduate Council's role is torepresent our needs to the administration," hesaid in an interview. "We have the [Institute ofPolitics], the College Democrats andRepublicans... and I believe that outside politicsis their job."

Nevin said it is impossible for one body torepresent the diversity of opinions across campus.

Up in Arms

The council is learning that lesson now--with abill that endorses a Harvard-based ROTC program.Debate of the bill spawned over 130 e-mailmessages to the council's mailing list beforespring break--on topics ranging from the Ku KluxKlan to the "current science on homosexuality."

"The main reasoning behind the bill is mostlyto try to repudiate the guilt-by-association thatis currently the policy we have towards studentsin ROTC," said Torre, a co-sponsor of thelegislation, which, if approved, would create atask force to work with the administration on theissue.

Currently, Harvard students who wish toparticipate in ROTC must travel to MIT to do so.The University banned ROTC from campus in 1969,when tensions over the Vietnam War enraged studentactivists. In 1994, the University stoppedpayments to MIT for the ROTC program, citingconcerns about discrimination against gaystudents.

Some students say the success of Sunday's billwould be indicative of where the council'spriorities lie.

"I would agree that if this bill fails, it willdemonstrate that the council is more committed totaking principled stances on controversial issuesrather than serving students," said David A.Campbell '00, who supported the legislation in ane-mail message to the list.A-6CLASHCrimsonGrant S. QuashaALL IN FAVOR: The UndergraduateCouncil now faces leaders divided over theorganization's direction.