A Delicate Dance

Former Undergraduate Council President Paul A. Gusmorino ’02 was known for his close relationships with administrators.

“With Paul in office it’s pretty hard to forget that the council exists,” then-Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth ’71 said at the time. “He makes it a point to get to know us people of riper years, and it’s not just schmoozing. He really does care about the issues.”

Six years later, working closely with administrators remains an essential component of leading the UC. This year’s president and vice president have been alternately accused of antagonizing administrators, with a fiery speech at President Faust’s installation ceremony, and currying favor with them, following concessions on the council’s controversial party grant program.

“They’re more concerned with making friends with the administration than representing the student body,” said UC presidential candidate Roy T. Willey IV ’09.

While it may not be rare to hear students opining on the UC’s relationship with the administration over a meal in the dining hall, it is less common for College powers that be to disclose their thoughts on the matter. Perhaps not surprisingly, administrators revealed their opinions less readily than student critics.

Many administrators were quick to downplay their interest in the upcoming election, claiming to have no opinion even regarding the candidate with whom they have worked closely for the past year, current UC Vice President Matthew L. Sundquist ’09.

“I’m completely neutral and opinion-less with respect to UC elections [and] expectations,” Interim Dean of the College David R. Pilbeam wrote in an e-mailed statement. “The less ‘the administration’ is involved, and seen to be involved, the better!”

Former UC President Noah Z. Seton ’00, who like Gusmorino was known for establishing close relationships with administrators, echoed this idea of keeping the administration uninvolved.

According to Seton, being seen as the “administration’s choice” could be more harmful than helpful to candidates by creating a perception that they are pandering to the administration at the expense of representing students.

Associate Dean of the College Judith H. Kidd also said that she is impartial about UC elections.

“I do not have any opinion about the UC presidential elections, in particular or in general,” Kidd wrote.

By contrast, Associate Dean for Residential Life Suzy M. Nelson said she keeps tabs on the race.

“I follow the process because I’m interested in student life,” she wrote in an e-mail. “I don’t support one candidate over another candidate because I don’t vote—this is for the students to decide.”

Although administrators expressed no preference for UC insiders over outsiders, Seton said that having worked closely with administrators prior to his tenure as president was beneficial to both sides.

“I’d already gotten to know them, so that familiarity with them and their familiarity with me sort of helped us once we got elected,” he said.

—Staff writer Aditi Banga can be reached at abanga@fas.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Victoria B. Kabak can be reached at vkabak@fas.harvard.edu.