The only proposals which eventually become faculty legislation are those which the Faculty originally wanted passed. Dana Leifer '80, a former CUE student member, says the issues CUE discussed "were all generated from the Faculty." Because Bowersock writes the agenda for each meeting, faculty concerns get top billing. "Everything we do is pointless unless it's something the Faculty supported to begin with," Henderson says.

Most of the time the Faculty Council has already decided, Brown explains, and CUE approval is "just a formality." Heather McClave, professor of English and former CUE member, criticizes the students' fatalistic attitude, claiming they may in some cases push their ideas through, though the process is "an uphill battle."

Looking back over her year's service to CUE, Brown feels disheartened and "pretty hardened to the idea of student participation." Like most of the students, she started off "thinking we were going to change a lot, make a difference." But now that a year has gone by, the only change Brown can point to as student-inspired is a pamphlet on study abroad which the Council agreed to print this year.

The lack of Faculty commitment to undergraduate education is, as usual, at the center of CUE's troubles. Until the Faculty makes a serious attempt to respect undergraduate needs and to respond constructively to their criticism, CUE will remain one of the many "student-faculty committees," set up more to ease faculty conscience than to give students a meaningful role in setting educational policy.

IN THE MEANTIME the Faculty should take certain steps to improve CUE's effectiveness. For one, Whitlock should make it clear to Faculty Council members who volunteer for CUE what the commitment entails. Perhaps such a warning would discourage the Cromptons who have better things to do from joining the committee. Faculty members should also understand the issues CUE considers. McClave, for instance, says she did not speak up at the CUE discussions on the Core two years ago because she was "not well-acquainted with the Core legislation." This is incredible considering that CUE discussed nothing but the Core that year.

In addition, students should have more access to the Faculty Council. Bowersock says the Council discusses confidential matters and student presence would "inhibit freedom of discussion." The Council, however, could easily include students in debates on specific issues. Keeping Council meetings secret inhibits freedom of discussion more seriously--by preventing debate between faculty and students.

Finally, CUE should meet more often, starting early in the fall. Faculty members who cannot attend regularly should resign.