Council President Hanselman Says He Won't Run Again

A teary-eyed David L. Hanselman '94-'95 announced at the end of his "State of the Undergraduate Council" address last night that he will not seek re-election as the body's president next semester.

Hanselman cited the lackluster performance of the council under the leadership of a second semester senior last spring as a primary concern in his decision not to run.

"Quite simply, in the upcoming semester the Undergraduate Council will need more energy and more conscientiousness than a second-semester senior can provide," he said.

Hanselman said that the decision not to seek re-election is not unusual for first-semester presidents and that about half the presidents in recent memory have chosen not to run.

Hanselman became so emotional at the end of his speech that he had to pause several times to wipe away tears and regain his composure before concluding.

"Let me just say that presiding over the Undergraduate Council has been my most enjoyable activity and truly ranks as the culmination of my four years at Harvard," Hanselman said.

In his speech, Hanselman recounted what he felt to be the council's major successes of the semester, emphasizing the involvement of members as a measure of success.

Hanselman also outlined programs and legislation he hopes to see realized by next semester's council, most notably to address the issue of house randomization.

"I would like to see randomization linked to other issues like shuttle bus reform and study space in the houses," he said.

The issue of upperclass housing did not wait for next semester's Council, however, as a bill opposing a proposed reduction of blocking group sizes was offered by Student Affairs Chair Justin C. Label '97.

The resolution counters a suggestion from some administrators to reduce the maximum number of first-years allowed to block together in the housing lottery from 20 to eight.

"Cutting the blocking size would keep about twenty-five percent of students from living with whom they want," Label said.

The council finally approved the resolution with only two dissenting votes, stating in the bill that it "has devoted itself to the belief that it is more important to students with whom they live than where."

The council will now attempt, to gain the support of the House Committee chairs before it presents the resolution to the Committees on College Life and House Life at a meeting on Tuesday

"Cutting the blocking size would keep about twenty-five percent of students from living with whom they want," Label said.

The council finally approved the resolution with only two dissenting votes, stating in the bill that it "has devoted itself to the belief that it is more important to students with whom they live than where."

The council will now attempt, to gain the support of the House Committee chairs before it presents the resolution to the Committees on College Life and House Life at a meeting on Tuesday