The Institute of Politics basically puts together intellectually stimulating programs and permits a select bunch of students to hobnob with the most outstanding group of unemployed people in the world. The U.C., on the other hand, deals with issues, however insignificant, that are focused on the Harvard campus. In addition, the council, as opposed to the other political groups, is accountable to the entire Harvard undergraduate population.
Many council members love to wax eloquently about their lifelong "interest in public service," (euphemism for "lifelong interest in politics"). Leaving aside the question of whether those loudest in their auto-martyrology have ever set foot in Phillips Brooks House, some U.C. members do genuinely want to improve the quality of life here.
The structure the council offers makes it easier for members to do so in some small way. In addition, joining extracurricular activities allows you not only to improve personal traits, but to have fun. The U.C., make no mistake, is lots of fun. If a certain amount of pompousness and self-congratulatory long-windedness can be tolerated, most council. members tend to be quite likeable.
It should be noted that people on the U.C. ought to consider their own role. A government is only as good as the people who elect it and the same is true regarding the council.
Cheap, unsubstantive attacks on the easily-attackable U.C. accomplish little except fulfilling the aforementioned need for universal objects of ridicule. The rise of Ross Perot shows that seemingly chronic whiners, fed up with "government," can and will, given the opportunity, vigorously dedicate themselves to creating a better system.
Rather than spew unoriginal cliches, U.C. observers might choose to demand substance from the candidates in their House or Yard region, both before and after elections. The actions of U.C. representatives parallel the rest of human activities in that, left unchecked, they follow the natural human tendency toward self-interest.
Even better than holding other candidates responsible, people who have ever harbored the thought of running for U.C. might surmount the courage to do so. As someone who has lost elections for council chair, vice-chair and treasurer, I have some authority to say that losing elections isn't as bad as it seems.
The more competitive elections are, the more candidates will have to devote original consideration to their own project goals and responsibilities to constituents. The more that happens, the more productive and responsive to student interests the U.C. will be.
Adam D. Taxin '93, a contributing writer for the opinion page, has served on the U.C. for three years, including a tenure as co-chair of the Academics Committee. If God is with him, he may one day be elected county commissioner.