Pool of Class Marshal Candidates Narrowed

After several days of online elections, 16 seniors are one step closer to winning the coveted class marshal title, the Harvard Alumni Association announced yesterday.

Voting will begin today in the last round of elections. And when seniors cast their last virtual ballots on Thursday, the group of 16 finalists will be winnowed down to eight.

The students selected to become class marshals this week will represent the Class of 2004 in various ways throughout the year, including planning senior week, selecting a speaker for Class Day and participating in Commencement exercises.

But their responsibilities don’t end in Tercentenary Theatre—the position of class marshal is a lifetime role, serving as a liaison between alums and the University.

All seniors were given an opportunity to rank as many as 16 seniors out of an initial group of 75 on a website set up by Alumni Association. This year marks the first time the elections were held online.

Traditionally, seniors have been elected as finalists through house committees and written ballots.

“I think it has really expedited the process and has really gone well,” said Director of College Alumni Programs F. Hoopes Wampler, who coordinates the marshal elections.

From the 16 finalists, members of the Class of 2004 will vote for eight class marshals in final elections.

“I see becoming a class marshal as an honor,” finalist Benita T. Liao ’04 said. “I was ecstatic to have made it this far.”

Of the 16 finalists, only six candidates are female, leading some to question the gender gap.

“I think the results are pretty male-dominated,” unsuccessful candidate Jessica L. Maki ’04 said.

But others argue that any uneven gender distribution is purely coincidental.

“Having more men than women as finalists didn’t even cross my mind,” Liao said. “People vote for those that they think are best qualified for the job, regardless of sex.”

Before 2000, four female students from Radcliffe and four male students from Harvard were elected as marshals. But when Radcliffe College officially merged with Harvard, gender quotas were eliminated from the election process.

Most candidates said they have no major plans for campaigning during the final elections.

“I probably will encourage my friends to vote, but not much else,” finalist David B. Adelman ’04 said. “I don’t expect to run naked through the Yard or anything, but I wouldn’t put it past me.”

Final elections will be held online today through Thursday.

Besides Adelman and Liao, the finalists are Shaka Joaquin-Doyle Bahadu ’04, Zachary A. Corker ’04, Elizabeth C. Drummond ’04, John Paul M. Fox ’04, Geoffrey S. Harcourt ’04, Hunter A. Maats ’04, Jasmine J. Mahmoud ’04, Marc D. Manara ’04, Joseph H. Mujalli ’04, John-Paul R. Munfa ’04, Nii Amaah K. Ofosu-Amaah ’04, Shira S. Simon ’04, Jessica J. Tang ’04 and Katherine S. Zacarian ’04.