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Reformist Ticket Defeated in Race For GSA Seats

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All of the eight reform candidates for seats on the Graduate Student Association Council were defeated Wednesday in an election that brought out only 286 of GSA's 1500 members.

"We wanted to make GSA into a regular student government, to which all graduate students would belong," Michael R. Gardner, a member of the reform slate, said yesterday. "Now members have to pay, and GSA is primarily a social committee."

"If the GSA is going to speak for all grads--as it does in recommendations to the deans on scholarships and curriculum--every student ought to have a vote," Gardner added.

At present, only a third of Harvard's 5000 graduate students belong to GSA.

The reform slate, backed by the Graduate Student Organizing Council, an independent organization set up this year to bring about reforms in GSA, had printed up a platform and distributed leaflets. "But the unofficial conservative dorm group won anyway," Gardner said.

Cut Throats

"They cut their own throats with their publicity," Paul G. Munyon, GSA president, said yesterday.

"Since all candidates are listed on the ballot alphabetically, just by random selection about three of their candidates should have been elected," Munyon said. "But I guess those that cared to vote just didn't care to have a radical organization."

Among reform proposals were immediate withdrawal from Vietnam, opposition to the draft, and support of certain of Afro's demand.

"We thought GSA ought to exert more influence on University policies," Gardner said.

According to John L. White, GSA secretary, the 286 vote is the largest in GSA history.

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