Undergraduate Council presidential candidates Carey W. Gabay '94, Melissa Garza '94 and Mark D. McKay '94 faced-off last night in a Crimson-sponsored debate.

A panel of three student journalists from the Salient, the Independent and The Crimson posed questions to the candidates in front of about 30 spectators, most of whom are council members.

The debate, held at The Crimson, revolved around issues of accessibility, organization and the ability of the candidates to transcend their roles in previous councils.

From his opening remarks, Gabay tried to dispel his "old-boy network" stigma, including a charge later in the debate by Garza that Gabay had threatened to resign if Beys were impeached following what Garza called a "check writing scandal."

"My record will show me not as an old boy, not as a power hungry, politics-driven individual, not as a backroom broker, but as a dedicated, well-intentioned, accessible individual," said Gabay. "I've been above the politics of the council."

Garza, too, was criticized for what she called "being divisive" on women's issues on the council and having trouble communicating with certain council members, particularly Beys. Garza said, "At least as president I would initiate dialogue with Mike Beys on how to work better together."

She said the council needs a new direction. "I don't think the leadership has fos- tered the leadership this council needs," Garzasaid.

In an interview immediately following thedebate, McKay said, "I don't think Melissa [Garza]can work effectively with everybody on thecouncil. I think Carey [Gabay] has the sameproblem to a lesser degree, a far lesser degree.Like I have said time and time again, I think I'mthe person who can deal with the council as awhole."

Trade-off

McKay also charged that Gabay and Garza'sinvolvement with the Finance Committee, because ofits structured agenda in comparison with othercommittees, did not prepare them for the pressuresof the council presidency.

McKay pointed to his involvement on the SocialCommittee and his role in restructuring theconstitution as evidence of his involvement andinteraction with the council.

Garza said she played the leading role in thedecision to extend the council's candidateregistration deadline this year when other membersdid not make similar efforts.

Shortly before the debate, outgoing CouncilChair Michael P. Beys '94 defended the actions ofthe council during his tenure.

"If internal disputes can be avoided with nocost to student services, great, but I think thereis a trade-off between intense activism and makingeveryone agree," Beys said. "I leave it to futurecouncils to prove me wrong," he said.

Gabay and McKay said they were pleased withtheir ability to get their point across in thedebate, while Garza said she felt somewhatdisappointed. All the candidates said they arelooking forward to Sunday's election