Undergraduate Council Vice President Brandon C. Gregoire '95 announced late last night that he will withdraw from the council's presidential race.

Gregoire, previously considered one of the frontrunners for the post, cited the strain of four terms as an executive in his decision not to run.

"I'm just very stressed out as a result of all my council experiences, and I'm ready to assume my seat as a normal council member," Gregoire said.

Gregoire's withdrawal from the race came just a day after he vehemently attacked an opponent at a council-sponsored presidential debate. Gregoire alleged that candidate Randall A. Fine '96 had conspired with outgoing President David L. Hanselman '94-'95 to selectively remove political enemies from the council when the two were executives two years ago.

"I feel I had some points to make," Gregoire said last night. "I had to reveal certain things that had come to my attention over the matter."

Gregoire was quick to point out, however, that he did not consider the issue resolved.

"This matter will be taken care of," Gregoire said. "We have not heard the last of it."

"I hope that those involved in the matter will come out with the truth," he added.

Gregoire was visibly disgusted while Fine defended his record at last night's council debate.

At one point, he muttered to himself, "Yeah, right," as Fine denied all wrongdoing as council secretary in the spring of 1993.

Gregoire emphasized in an interview last night that his withdrawal from the executive race does not signal the end of his involvement in council activities.

In fact, he said that he plans to introduce the same initiatives he proposed during his presidential campaign.

Gregoire entered the council race almost immediately after Hanselman announced that he would not seek re-election.

He came under attack from Hanselman, who stated that second semester seniors such as Gregoire should not run the council. Gregoire has vigorously defended his right to run and his ability to do an outstanding job.

Rumors that Gregoire was stepping down began circulating late yesterday afternoon, but Gregoire denied their veracity at a presidential question-and-answer session in the Freshman Union last night.

Fine declined to speculate on how Gregoire's withdrawal would affect the race. But Hanselman, who has officiallyendorsed Fine, called him the "clearfront-runner."

"Brandon's withdrawal is of greatest advantageto Randy [Fine] for the simple reason that Brandonwas Randy's most formidable opponent, and whenyour most formidable opponent withdraws, that onlyenhances one's chances of being elected," theoutgoing council president said.

Gregoire's other opponents--Joshua D. Liston'95 and Rudd W. Coffey '97--did not return phonecalls last night.

Q&A

Last night's question-and-answer session, whichcame on the day after Wednesday's vituperativedebate, was largely substantive and entirelybarbfree.

The four candidates fielded queries frommembers of the council's Freshman Caucus in theback room of the Union.

The candidates began their discussion byresponding individually to a question about theirvisions for a campus life agenda.

Coffey, who chairs the Campus Life committee,recited a long list of ideas, including aHarvard-wide formal, a battle of the bands nightat the House of Blues and the return of theCharles River raft race.

Gregoire said he would push for a large-scalemusical event and a large-scale comedy event.

Liston, on the other hand, said he wanted thecouncil to think about how it could improveHarvard's social life "more fundamentally." Hecited several ideas--including the return offraternities and the introduction of shuttle busesto Boston--that he said he hoped would improve thetypical Harvard weekend.

Fine said the council should make a "big push"to bring in a major musical act. He said he alsowanted to see a large comedy concert and addedthat social events should, as a rule, be used "tounify the campus."

The candidates also fielded questions aboutstudent affairs projects and the role of theFreshman Caucus