Council Elections Spark A Record 185 Entries

Move over, Arnold.

In the California gubernatorial recall election, there will be 135 names on the ballot. But next week’s Undergraduate Council election will be even more competitive—with 185 students competing for seats.

The number of students running this year will be the largest in the council’s 21-year history, the council’s election committee announced last night.

Of the 185 candidates, 99 are freshman.

An additional 33 students also signed up to run for the council’s first-year social committee.

Only 91 students ran in the general election last year, which elects council representatives from each upperclass House.

“This means that 185 people think that the UC is a way to solve problems, a way to make things better,” Council President Rohit Chopra ’04 said. “This is the first time in the more than 20 years of UC history that every election will be competitive.”

Finance committee chair Joshua A. Barro ’05 said the high number of candidates will increase competition and allow the council to better represent students.

“Some Houses last year had three candidates running for three seats,” he said.

Election Commission Chair David I. Monteiro ’04 said that he was surprised by the large number of students who signed up to run.

“We did make an extra effort to publicize, but I don’t think that alone can account for the numbers,” he said.

Chopra said he thinks that the increased turnout is due partly to the council’s aggressive publicity campaign and greater visibility on campus.

“People see the council’s focus on student advocacy and they want to get in on it,” he said.

Zachary A. Corker ’04, a resident of Mather House, said he decided to run because of the council’s support for more undergraduate social events.

“More people are running because Rohit has really shown people that you can make a change through the UC,” he said, pointing out that Chopra’s effort to reach out to House Committees may have enticed more students to run.

Pauline W. Klyce ’06, who will also be running in the elections, said that the record-breaking number of students on the ballot “sucks for the candidates” but is a good thing for students.

“It’s good for students will have a larger pool from which to select,” she said.

Eric P. Lesser ’07 is running to represent first-years in the North Yard. The Thayer resident said that he doesn’t know very much about the council yet, but is excited to learn.

“I want to be an advocate for students,” he said.

Polls will be open from noon on Monday Sept. 22 to noon on Monday Sept. 25.

—Staff writer Ebonie D. Hazle can be reached at hazle@fas.harvard.edu.