"I think there's no way to address all theniceties that the petition issue raised lastyear," Epps said in an interview earlier thisweek. "The best thing is to take a fresh start."

The council overruled its parliamentarian'sdecision that the referendum be binding on thegrounds that small student turnout--about 22percent--was not large enough to effect majorchanges.

The council pre-approved a rule stipulatingthat 50 percent of the College need vote to makethe referendum binding.

Epps' statement could represent a new hands-offapproach for the administration in councilmatters.

During the spring semester, Epps hinted atadministrative intervention when another councilreferendum was riddled with improprieties.

And last fall, Peps stepped in and wrestedcontrol of the election from presidential hopefulMichael P. Byes '94 and potential executivecandidate Randall A. Fine '96 on the grounds of aconflict of interest. Beys and Fine held the toptwo council executive positions at the time.

In an interview yesterday, Liston said hewelcomed Epp's words.

"It's good to hear that the college is lettingthe representatives of the students finally governthemselves," Liston said.

Of the elections next, Liston added, "Idefinitely think that you can expect to seecandidates next year use some of the issues [onthe referendum] that they either are in favor ofor that they oppose in the campaign literature."

In that, he agrees with Epps.

"The candidates should [run] on the basis ofthe issues addressed by the referendum," Eppssaid