But although the whistles were purchased, they have not been distributed. Harvard has also not said if it will improve lighting. However, the Cambridge City Council endorsed the Undergraduate Council's efforts, and while the tangible effects of the council's security efforts remain to be seen, their impact may extend beyond paper goals.
A similarly ambiguous fate met the council's attempt to address poor College advising. This indeed represented a new, important concern for students, but the council could not decide how broad to make its plans for "student advocates," alternatives to the College's existing advising structure. Ultimately, a concrete proposal was delayed until fall.
If the council's activist agenda seemed to progress more slowly in the second semester, it ground to a complete halt when, three weeks before the end of the year, a seemingly innocent proposal shook the campus and all but paralyzed the council for the rest of the year.
The council voted by a wide margin to call on Harvard and the military to negotiate the return of Reserve Officers Training Corps back to campus--without academic credit--after a 20-year hiatus.
The issue touched a raw nerve, coming within a week of the 20th anniversary of the student seizure of University Hall--an event which led to ROTC's withdrawal from campus.
The council passed the resolution despite protestations that endorsing ROTC violates both council and Harvard policy, both of which prohibit affiliation with organizations that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
In the week that followed, hundreds of anti-ROTC activists protested daily, while ROTC students retorted with claims that training Harvard students for the armed forces will eventually help to reform the military.
When the council convened the next week to consider overturning the ROTC resolution, they were met by hundreds of students, eager to have their say in the controversial debate. The council voted to overturn the call for ROTC's return on the basis of unconstitutionality, but when Lee closed debate on another ROTC resolution before allowing anyone to speak, chaos ensued: the crowd began chanting and approaching the podium and a frazzled Lee adjourned the meeting.
Although the council has since officially voted to postpone all debate on ROTC until next year, the week-long controversy has caused many to question the council's legitimate right to represent the student body.
"By closing itself down, the Undergraduate Council made itself illegitimate," Felicia Kornbluh '88-'89, an anti-ROTC activist, said after the meeting. "By voting the resolution unconstitutional and then continuing debate, the Undergraduate Council made itself illegitimate," she added.
But, to many, the political problems created by the ROTC affair paled in comparison to the financial problems in which the council enmeshed itself.
Throughout its seven years, the council has had only spotty success in scheduling big-name concert appearances. In 1988, the council drew criticism for announcing and then cancelling two separate concerts.
Last fall, a successful appearance by reggae artist Jimmy Cliff lost the council several thousand dollars, but nonetheless encouraged students to expect another concert in the spring.
In secret negotiations throughout the second semester, Lee tried to secure a concert and, only weeks before the end of the academic year, announced an appearance by pop-folk artist Suzanne Vega which would cost the council over $60,000.
The council was counting on a sell-out show to earn back Vega's hefty fee. But the ROTC affair prevented council members from publicizing the event, and when the concert fell far short of a sell-out, the council suffered losses that may exceed $35,000.
The council is likely to seek a loan from BayBanks and will still have to drastically cut next year's social budget. But Treasurer Michael R. Kelsen '90 said that the deficit will not affect grants to student organizations.
The ROTC and the Vega affairs, both now dubbed fiascos by many council members, will certainly influence next year's council. Observers have noted that many respected council members will not run for reelection, and that the election of new council representatives will focus on ROTC and financial issues.
Other council members have said that the council may revert to its pre-activism days and focus more on student service issues.
But whether the council overstepped its bounds at year's end or whether the body's fiascos merely reflected its coming-of-age, the council's fast start and its financial and political losses leave a legacy that will not be ignored by councils to come.