While people often say that Harvard's Undergraduate Council election is little more than a popularity contest, this year voters may have to make some real choices. Last year many of the contests occurred before voting began; some houses had to scramble to find six students willing to run for the College's only recognized student representative organization. Few spots were hotly contested.

But this year's unprecedented number of candidates--a whopping 175 of which slightly more than half will gain seats on the council--may leave voters with some difficult decisions to make. No longer will a candidate's catchy slogan, or word of mouth recommendation suffice.

Only 89 aspirants will emerge from the pack after the three days of voting are concluded tomorrow to serve for a full year as a council member on the six-year-old body.

The large pool of candidates could conceivably alter the focus of the council. Two years ago the council was torn asunder with infighting over whether it should act as a forum for larger political issues or for issues concerning student life. While in the past, the council has addressed both matters, two years ago, the students decided to limit the body's scope to the College.

Current Chairman of the Council Richard S. Eisert '88 said that the large field of candidates, the most he has seen during his four years on the council, stems from this change in direction. He attributed the organization's "growing popularity" to last year's campus-wide events such as the Elvis Costello concert and the Memorial Hall keg party "which helped portray the council in a very favorable light."

Eisert, who is committed to the council's centering on student life issues, has chaired the body for two consecutive terms. He ran an unopposed reelection campaign last spring which was considered a mandate for his student life philosophy.

And, according to a Crimson survey conducted this week of students seeking election to the council, Eisert's goal will be perpetuated this year. The large majority of candidates interviewed said that they think condition of student life is the council's top priority.

Candidates this week were asked:

.Whether the council is a forum to consider political issues outside of Harvard, or concern itself solely with student life

.What they thought of the alcohol policy

.Whether the council should discuss campus racial issues

.Whether the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement (QRR) should be mandatory for all students

.Whether students should have input in faculty tenure decisions

"The administration does a good job with political involvement, but it doesn't touch student life. That is a job for the Council," said Donald A. Fishman '91.

"We need to solve our problems here on campus first before we deal with outside problems," agreed David R. Golob '89.