Apathy Plagues Special Council Elections

This Sunday, six new representatives will be named to the Undergraduate Council, but only one will have won an election.

In light of recent resignations and expulsions due to excessive absences, the council decided last month to hold special elections in order to fill open seats in Cabot, Currier, Dudley and Winthrop Houses.

But the only contest lies in Currier House where Brian C. Grech '03, Juan C. Rasco '03 and Aryeh Weinstein '02 are all running for the position vacated by Erica A. Farmer '01, who resigned in October. All the candidates in the other Houses are uncontested.

"I really don't know much about the UC at all," said E. Clarke Tucker '03, who will be filling one of the three vacancies in Cabot House. "I just want to learn how it works and then go from there."

Cabot House suffered the most dramatically from voter apathy back in October, fielding no official candidates and electing all three representatives from seven write-in votes.

One of those originally elected was council veteran David B. Orr '01, who unenthusiastically assumed the post.

Yet despite being expelled last month for poor attendance, he will resume his role as a representative on Sunday.

"I am very involved in activities outside the council this year--most importantly the Coalition Against Sexual Violence," Orr wrote in an e-mail message. "But I think it is important to keep a progressive, activist voice on the UC, so I intend to stay involved to do that."

Council President Fentrice D. Driskell '01 said she is confident that Orr will stick to his commitment.

"Although he was expelled, David continued to work on his projects," she said. "I believe he will do good work."

Voting in Currier House begins tomorrow and will continue through Friday. Gech described the race as "pretty laid back" with campaigning consisting mostly of door-to-door visits.

The winner of that election will be seated on Sunday along with Orr, Thomas F. Traugott '02 and Tucker of Cabot House; Svetla I. Gueorguieva '01 of Dudley House; and Michael A. Hill '01 of Winthrop House.