Ad Hoc Positions Empower Council

The Undergraduate Council will be given an unprecedented opportunity to affect University-wide policy this week when it selects two undergraduate representatives to serve on Harvard's newly formed, 20-person committee created to examine the wages of its employees.

The council's Student Affairs Committee (SAC) will be accepting applications this week from any undergraduates who wish to apply to be on the committee. Then SAC--in accordance with the council's constitution with regard to appointments--will vote to appoint two of the applicants. SAC's choices will be voted upon by the council at large in a confirmation hearing scheduled for May 16th.

Council President Paul A. Gusmorino `02 said that although SAC appoints undergraduates to a variety of other administrative committees, like the Committee on House Life, the Committee on College Life and the Committee on Undergraduate Education, the wage committee appointment will be especially important in that it will direct University policy--not just that of the College.

"It's unusual because it's the first time a high-profile, ad-hoc committee has been formed and included students," Gusmorino said. "It's a tangible way in which the UC will be able to affect this area of policy-making at the University level. It's definitely exciting."

The only other committee that advises on University policy and includes an undergraduate appointed by the council is the Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility, but the University often does not follow that committee's policy suggestions about the ethics of investing Harvard's endowment.

Tuesday's creation of the two posts has sparked debate among council members over what sorts of students should be picked to serve on the committee.

Council liberals have suggested that members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM), whose Mass Hall sit-in led to the committee's formation, should fill both undergraduate seats.

"I personally feel that the spots should go to he members of the PSLM--the people who are responsible for the committee in the first place," said council member James C. Coleman `03.

Council conservatives have stressed the need for objectivity among the council's appointees.

"I hope that SAC will remember that student viewpoints are varied on this issue and also that this is not the 'Living Wage Committee' but the Committee on Employment Practices," said Council Parliamentarian John P. Marshall `01. "Often the best person... is someone who doesn't have a preconceived solution in mind."

"They need to find someone not carrying an agenda," said council member Sterling P.A. Darling `01. "A PSLM member who won't listen will not be effective."

SAC Chair Todd E. Plants `01 said he expects the PSLM to submit a "slate of candidates," but that "the campus will be better served by different perspectives."

Although council members are precluded from serving on the committee, at least two--former council secretary John F. Bash `03 and Fred O. Smith `04--have announced their resignations from the council and their plans to compete for a seat on the committee.

Bash said his "moderate conservative" ideology will bring a unique perspective to the committee.

"I think I will bring a student voice that both appreciates the complexities of the issue and is committed to the overarching moral mission of reducing poverty in our community," Bash said.

Smith said he will be able to "distinguish the difference between emotionally-induced facts and empirically-supported ones."

Council representative Stephen N. Smith `02, a PSLM member who participated in the sit-in, said he has no plans to resign from the council and apply.

"I think there are students who would do a better job than myself," Smith said. "The drive of the committee is to find out the best way to treat Harvard's workers better. I hope that student selections for the committee reflect this goal."

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis `68 wrote in an e-mail that he expects the council to make prudent selections for the committee.

"The UC has the responsibility for supplying members to other student-faculty committees," Lewis wrote. "It has done an excellent job with that responsibility in recent years and I am confident that it will do so on this occasion."

Students who wish to apply to be on the committee can do so through the council's website at http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hruc. Applications are due by 12 p.m. on Monday.

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