Vocal Critic from the Right

Although he was congratulated by Perspective for his progressive views, Hornstein has since been a vocal critic from the right of the council who has opposed council stands on issues such as the University's investments in South Africa and its involvement with the Pittston coal miner's strike last fall.

His sponsorship of a controversial proposal to bring the Reserve Officers Training Corps back to campus enraged many campus liberals, particularly since his support did not flag when most council members had rejected the proposal because of the military's policy of excluding gays and lesbians.

"It's really odd," Rauch says. "Last year he definitely became the right wing of the council."

Although few suspected Hornstein's move to the right on many issues, observers generally acknowledge that as soon as he won his council seat, he sent clear signals that he would be one to watch.

He ran for council secretary that fall, losing to David A. Battat '91, and then again in the spring, falling to Rauch. He also made bids to be vice chair of the academics committee both semesters, losing to former chair candidate Lori L. Outzs '91 in the fall and finally winning the position in the spring--over Rauch ("I'm one and two against Evan," he jokes).

Hornstein served on the council's academics committee his first year, and returned to that committee when he won election last year in Quincy House.

The former New York City native and Hunter College High School student body president says it was his interest in academic issues that first brought him onto the council.

"I thought that Harvard was probably the most exciting place to be academically in the world," he says, adding that he thought he would be able to make great changes at the University by getting involved in academic issues.

"I soon found out I was quite mistaken," he admits now. But Hornstein's new-found cynicism has not dissuaded him from working to change the council.

So when Hornstein threw his hat into the ring a few weeks ago, few council incumbents were surprised--except, claims Hornstein, he himself.

An Obvious Rising Star

When asked to name the obvious rising stars in his class, Rauch unhesitatingly says, "well Joel, it was fairly obvious, as well as Guhan [Subramanian '92, chair of last year's council]...Anyone who runs for an office their first semester on the council is kind of not being too subtle about their ambitions."

Despite declaring earlier that he would not seek the council chair, Hornstein reversed that position just days before the election. He says he would never have run had he known Rauch was going to win, but that he felt forced to run out of fear that a less competent candidate might take the post.

His chair campaign was a complete contrast to his campaign for secretary two years ago--except for the outcome.