David L. Hanselman '94-'95, who held the second-highest office in the Undergraduate Council two years ago, announced yesterday that he will run for president of the council.

Meanwhile, 26 candidates for the Undergraduate Council, including nine incumbents, have announced the formation of a reform-minded political party.

In what members describe as a dramatic volte-face, presidential candidate and current Vice President Joshua D. Liston '95 announced yesterday that he will push rescind last spring's $10 term-bill hike if he re-elected to the council.

And former secretary Randall A. Fine '96 has decided to seek a spot on the council after losing his seat last year.

Hanselman took a year off from school after serving as council vice chair in the spring of 1993. He is presently Liston's only opponent for the presidency.

As there are only five declared candidates for Currier House's five spots, Hanselman is all but assured of securing a seat on the council.

Hanselman said that he can provide a new direction based on "honest leadership and a clearly articulated vision."

In a five-page platform statement, he said the council's internal bickering has overshadowed its external goals.

Hanselman said in an interview that his time away from Harvard has provided him with an outside perspective. In addition, he said his experience in student government--as vice-chair of the council and as chair of the now-defunct residential committee--will allow him to serve as an effective leader.

Hanselman has proposed calling a special session of the council committees on the night of officer elections; usually committee do not meet until the following week. This will allow the council to jump-start the agenda seating process, he said.

Hanselman has also proposed convening a "Leadership and Issues Forum" between the council and University officials such as President Neil Rudenstine.

Other proposal include a "no-scandal guarantee." Hanselman wrote that he will resign if the council's "reputation...is damaged due to any act of incompetence or indiscretion I commit during my insure as presi- dent."

Hanselman's announcement comes on the day when incumbents David V. Bonfili '96 and Rudd W. Coffey '97 are officially kicked off the Movement to Reform the U.C. (MRUC).

MRUC's goals include adding another set of general elections before second semester. The party also wants to allow students to withhold all council funding--rather than the present five-sixths--by checking a box on the term bill.

The party has also promised to push for student services such as a 24-hour library, an inter-house face-book, reform of the core curriculum and key card access to all houses.

Bonfili and Coffey said they have recruited 26 of the 71 upper-class candidates for their party. Aside from Bonfili, none of the members have ever served on the council executive board.

The two decided not to recruit first-years because "they're coming in with a clean slate," Coffey said.

Bonfili and Coffey both said the party doesn't plan to endorse a presidential candidate to challenge Liston or Hanselman.

The party will publicize by postering or door-dropping a flier. That sheet will list the party's membership and goals.

Liston's Shift

The Liston about-face on the fee hike is especially curious because the presidential candidate was one of its most outspoken supporters last spring.

But Liston said in a statement that a referendum conducted last May proved that students oppose the measure.

"[U]ntil it is clear that over 50 percent of the student body would support an increase in the fee paid to the council,...the UC should abandon the thought of changing the amount and repeal last year's increase immediately," Liston said yesterday in a statement.

Liston emphasized in his statement that 60 percent of the student body opposed the fee hike in last year's referendum. But last My, Liston was pointing to a different referendum figure--the 22 percent student turnout, which, he said, proved that students were deferring to the council's decision.

"If there were significant opposition to the U.C., I think it would have seen stronger participation in the referendum," Liston said on May 13, adding "No, I would not support rescinding our votes."

Why the change of heart?

"Those who voted in last year's referendum are our friends, classmates, dorm mates and fellow Harvard students," Liston wrote. "These students should never believe that the UC is some detached body with no interest in what other students want."

Liston also announced a reversal of his position on the option students have to check a box on term-bills and waive the council fee. He will now push to withdraw the council's official opposition to the check-box option.

Liston had been one of the most vocal critics of the check option. "Why should a student get to enjoy Yardfest and all the benefits the U.C. has provided for them for free?" he asked The Crimson on March 18.

Bonfili, for one, was skeptical about Liston's motives.

"I think it's awfully curious that a person who was the anti-populist last year has suddenly done an about-face in the week prior to an important election," he said.

Randy's back

Fine served as secretary in the spring of 1993 but was not re-elected to the council last fall.

He passed up two opportunities to enter special elections in North House last winter.

But Fine said in an interview yesterday that he was "disheartened by the loss of interest on the part of students in the council" last year. He said he wants to get students more interested in the council and its work.

Fine said his main goal this year will be to represent student interests before the administration.

"Here at Harvard, the administration, the faculty [come first]; it's not a student-centered university," Fine said.

Fine said he hasn't thought about whether he will seek an executive position.

But a source familiar with the council said Fine has stated that he plans to make a bid for the vice presidency this fall.

Fine is virtually guaranteed a seat on the council. There are only four students competing for five spots in North House.

Fine was repeatedly accused of unethical behavior by other members and the student press during his year on the council. The allegations ranged from buying votes in a Republican Club election to keeping a council-administered grant from a federal agency for himself.

As a first-year, Fine was instrumental in the installation of cable television in the Freshman Union. He also promoted the use of energy efficient lighting as part of the "Green Lights" program