It seems like it happened just yesterday.

An executive of the Undergraduate Council had spent the spring suffering relentless attacks for poor judgment and flouting of the rules.

After a brief hiatus, the executive returned in the fall, ran for vice president, and lost. In the eyes of many observers, his career on the council had effectively ended.

But the council member refused to give up. He regrouped, and worked hard to rebuild his image among council members. He proposed resolutions, stayed out of trouble and built himself a network of supporters.

By the end of January, the council member's popularity reached new highest. He decided to make a bid for the council's highest office.

Sound familiar? It should. It's the story, in a nutshell, of council presidential candidate Randall A. Fine '96.

But on the council, as in most campus organizations, history often repeats itself. Indeed, the very same pattern manifested itself in one of Fine's early mentors.

Michael P. Beys '94 was lambasted--and nearly impeached from his office as treasurer--for the financially disastrous De La Soul concert in the spring of 1992.

That fall, he ran for vice chair and was defeated by Maya G. Prabhu '94. In February 1993, Byes, who was still razzed as "De La Mike," ran for chair.

And he won.

Will Fine follow in the footsteps of the man who once referred to the current candidate as "one of the all time greats?"

If conventional wisdom holds up tomorrow, he most certainly will.

Many council members interviewed, including outgoing President David L. Hanselman '94-'95 believe Fine is the front runner in tomorrow night's race.

But like Beys, Fine is still being condemned for sins he may have committed in previous springs.

At Wednesday's council-sponsored debate, presidential candidate Brandon C. Gregoire '95 came forward with a host of allegations regarding Fine's conduct as secretary in the spring of 1993.