Ferrell Will Run for Council President

Winthrop Undergraduate Council delegate Sam Ferrell '95 publicly entered the race for the council presidency yesterday, calling The Crimson early this morning to enroll in today's presidential debate.

David L. Hanselman '94-'95, who served as council vice chair in the spring of 1993, will face off against vice president Joshua D. Liston '95 and Ferrell in the 8:30 p.m. debate at the Kennedy School.

The debate will also feature the four vice-presidential candidates: Secretary Brandon C. Gregoire '95, former Secretary Randall A. Fine '96, Finance Committee Chair Jay I. Kim '95 and Campus Life Committee Co-Chair Mark P. Connolly '96.

Neither Liston nor Hanselman is immune from the scandals that have plagued the council over the last two years.

But despite the two former vice presidents' stormy pasts, Liston said he wants a substantive debate.

"I hope that my opponent concentrates on [the issues] instead of talking about the U.C. controversy last spring that he doesn't know anything about," Liston said, before Ferrell officially entered the debate.

According to Liston, his platform includes several proposals intended to bolster Harvard's school spirit, including the adoption of a mascot at Harvard athletic events.

Liston also said he would ask Harvard to sign a contract promising never to do away with its need-blind admissions policy.

Hanselman said his main goal in the debate is to present himself as a political outsider.

"I want to contrast myself with my opponent," Hanselman said. "I hope to show myself as an independent outsider compared to my opponent who is a political operative, but I don't expect the debate to become personal."

But Hanselman did add that he wants "to see the issues of character brought up."

When interviewed yesterday, neither Liston nor Hanselman knew of Ferrell's surprise candidacy. Ferrell served on the council as a delegate chair for Winthrop House last year.

Each of the seven candidates will be allowed one minute to present an opening statement.