IOP Task Force Meets With Pryor

Students and alumni on the "task force" formed to restructure the Institute of Politics' student government spoke last night with IOP Director David Pryor about how to maximize student involvement in the Institute's activities.

The group spent much of its time debating the idea of holding "town hall" type meetings, during which anyone in attendance could vote on IOP policy.

While some lauded the inclusiveness of such a plan, others warned that it would be inefficient and that IOP newcomers might not be the best people to make policy decisions.

The task force, which consists of 12 undergraduates and alumni, was formed last semester when Pryor dissolved the IOP's student governing board, saying it had become both insular and exclusive.

It will ultimately use this and future discussions to decide what to include in its constitution, set to be completed near the end of April.

"We want to see as much participation in the coming year as possible," Pryor said.

The meeting was open to all students and was advertised repeatedly by e-mail, but was only attended by a few IOP regulars in addition to the task force.

The discussion centered around a few main issues, with students expressing contrasting views on what it will take to draw more undergraduates into the IOP and how best to keep them once they are there.

The task force spent a long period discussing the qualifications for membership in the IOP and whether these could be opened further. Before Pryor's move to dissolve the student government, only few students were given voting rights within the IOP.

"This last hour and a half has been incredible," Pryor said at the meeting's close. "I have sensed an outstanding, civil search to better the IOP."

--Staff writer Alex B. Ginsberg can be reached at ginsberg@fas.harvard.edu.