Sandip P. Madhavareddy '98 served on the finance committee this semester and said that the grants package is the most important bill the council passes.

"The fall and spring grants packages have been most important for their impact on the 120 plus groups that drive activities on campus," Madhavareddy said. "Most of the events on campus that are sponsored by smaller organizations are put on with U.C. help."

Hyman said that one of his largest projects on the finance committee has been to encourage reforms to the process of awarding grants so that more groups can be given the help they need.

"The committee has been revamped and revitalized. We sought to incorporate a process that involves much more compromise. There has been a genuine sense that student groups are a major part of the vitality of this campus," Hyman said.

Live

A significant portion of the Freshman Caucus, however, is interested in nothing but putting on more and better events to improve life at Harvard.

Many of them focus on the council's debate over whether or not to bring the band Live to campus, saying that debate was one of the most important ones all year.

While the council ultimately voted down the bill which would have allocated $45,000 to bring the band to Harvard, first-years seem to be more supportive of such large scale events than many of their elders.

Reichel said he voted for the Live bill because it would have been a first step for the council to help improve campus life.

"I felt it was our big chance of the year to put the U.C. on the map as being dedicated to a good campus social scene," Reichel said.

Manisha Bharti '98 said that she voted for the Live concert as well because she thinks that large events are important in the council's efforts to salvage its reputation.

"I think large activities that are cool and that are seen as being cool are very important for us to have," Bharti said. "One, because we have the means to improve social life here on campus, and two, because we also have to power within our own hands to improve our reputation."

"The price tag scared everybody off. They thought we'd put our ass in a sling if it failed. It really showed me that a lot of members are more worried about the continued existence of their own private club than they are about doing something for students," he added.

Rapp, too, said he voted for the bill and harshly denounced those who voted against it.

"Live is a great band and would have been the U.C.'s biggest success in years," Rapp said. "However, the council governs from fear, rather than hope. Instead of hoping for a success, the members of the U.C. feared what it would look like on their resumes if Live flopped."