Although last week's senior class marshal election yielded two black first marshals for only the second time in University history, the most remarkable aspect of that result seems to be that it is not remarkable at all.

Students, administrators and the marshals themselves heavily down-played the importance of race in the election of Eli K. Aheto '97 and Allyson V. Hobbs '97, pointing instead to the candidates' high visibility and universal appeal.

"If anything, I think this shows that Harvard has brought together a group of people to whom personal qualities are more important than physical qualities," Aheto said. "I think it was a reflection of people knowing who we were, independent of our backgrounds."

Aheto is business manager and president of the Yearbook, and Hobbs is active in organizations including Crimson Key, the Prefect Program, House and Neighborhood Development program (HAND) and the Black Students' Association (BSA).

"The first thing that struck me was not that they were two black marshals, but that they were two good friends of mine," said marshal finalist and BSA President Derrick N. Ashong '97. "They were of such a caliber, so charismatic, that they would have transcended any situation, no matter where they were, even in an ostensibly racist environment."

John W. Turner '97, the second marshal, echoed Ashong's reaction.

"To be honest, I haven't really thought that much about [the ethnic composition of the marshals]," he said. "To me, it was not a surprise that both Eli and Allyson got the first marshal position. Both Eli and Allison are superb candidates and are well-liked throughout the class."

Many seemed to agree with fourth marshal Kevin C. Scott '97, who said personality, not ethnicity, was the driving factor behind the election results.

"I think the diversity of the marshals that were elected is fabulous, but I don't think race made a difference in the way people voted," Scott said.

Hobbs, a Crimson editor, said she felt the elections offered seniors a selection of strong candidates from a variety of backgrounds.

"It's a great group of people, because everyone has participated in different activities and everyone brings different qualities to the group," she said. "I really feel confident in the selection of the class."

Many of the marshals knew each other before the election, Aheto said, adding that they believe they are very capable of understanding and serving student needs.

"One thing that was apparent to us was that we represent a lot of people on campus," he said. "There was some overlap among activities and friends, but on the aggregate we cover a lot of the student body. They will be represented well."

Two blacks first served together as first marshals nine years ago, when Tab T. Stewart '88 and Fiona Anderson '88 were elected to the office.

"Since other African-Americans had been marshals individually before, it wasn't seen as that big of a deal," said Stewart, now a corporate lawyer in New York City. "I was involved in student government, and Fiona was a singer; so a lot of people knew us."

Anderson, now Fiona Anderson Blair, has a medical practice in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said he has seen the development of "great diversity" among class marshals in the past 10 to 15 years.

"We've had a very talented group of students of color in the College, who are excelling and who are being seen as leaders on campus," Epps said.

"I think that if you were to ask their peers if race matters, they would say 'Who cares?'