UC Recruits New Undergrads

Message to the student body: the Undergraduate Council (UC) is looking for a few—actually, a bunch—of good undergrads.

Like the myriad of student groups reaching out to new members and prospective compers this month, the UC is in the midst of a nearly three-week-long recruitment process, talking to any and all students interested in a stint in student government.

Elections this year will even happen a week later than usual, in order to give potential candidates additional time to learn about the UC and campaigning.

“We have the latest election that we’ve had, so that we [can] focus more intently on recruitment,” said UC President John S. Haddock ’07.

This fall’s elections—candidates must decide to run or not by Friday—marks the start of the “new,” pared down UC. The independent College Events Board replaced one of the UC’s three committees, the Campus Life Committee, last semester.

“Since all these changes to the UC happened at the tail end of reading period, not all returning students might be aware that [the UC is] now better suited to meet student needs,” UC Public Relations Director Benjamin M. Milder ’08 said.

The UC tabled at the freshmen and upperclass activities fair, sponsored a general information session as well as one geared toward female undergraduates, and has teamed up with the Vote or Die campaign, which aims to increase minority representation on the Council.

Haddock also said he and UC Vice-President Annie R. Riley ’07 will reach out to student groups, House Committees, and political groups to encourage them to support candidates.

“We’re trying to get all parts of the campus excited,” Haddock said.

A later election period will cut into the time the Council has to work before it becomes overwhelmed by the UC presidential election in December, but Council members were not concerned that a later start would impede the UC’s momentum. The UC planned ahead and funded the party and grant funds in advance last spring, providing funding for them from the start of school to the convening of the new Council, according to Haddock.

Riley also thought that a UC filled with better-informed Council members would lead to a more efficient start. Given the emphasis on recruitment, elected members will “be better able to fulfill the responsibilities of a representatives’ role which will lead to a really productive semester on the UC,” Riley said.

“A problem in past years is that there wasn’t enough information getting to students about the UC,” Milder said. To help prevent this from affecting recruitment this year, Milder said he will put together a UC website this week that will provide information about the Council as well as provide voting and attendance records of incumbent members.

—Staff writer Brittney L. Moraski can be reached at bmoraski@fas.harvard.edu.