Spital said the council's first-year caucus opposes the referendum and plans to campaign against it.

But others said the grants issue is something that all candidates should address in the elections.

"I think it's an issue, and I think the candidates who address the issue are the ones who should win," said president Robert M. Hyman '98, who has already given his endorsement to Rawlins and O'Mary.

"People who are separating it from the campaign are afraid of [the issue]," he said at the executive board meeting.

The budget issue has been a controversial one on the council this fall. Many see the increase specified in the referendum as cutting into an already meager council fund. Both the council's campus life (CLC) and student affairs committees draw funds for their events and programs from this supply.

"Students don't understand that events cost as much as they do," said Sena, co-chair of the CLC. "I don't think many students know that this money is being used to do things and is not just sitting there useless in our coffers."

He pointed to the recent success of the Harvard-Yale Weekend events put on by the council as examples of what the council does with the money not given to student groups.

Rawlins disputed her opponents' argument that students would not be able to make an informed decision on the issues.

"I think there's going to be a big effort to obfuscate the issue, saying it's too complex," Rawlins said. "But I think [the provisions] are very simple and well laid-out."

Treasurer Troubles

John J. Appelbaum '97, the council's treasurer, was expelled at Sunday's council meeting for excessive absences.

The council's constitution requires that members who have five or more absences be expelled from the council.

Expelled members may apply at the next meeting of the executive board for reinstatement and can be voted back in with a two-thirds vote of the board.

However, if Appelbaum does not appear before the executive board at the next meeting, his expulsion will be permanent.

Appelbaum has not yet contacted Rawlins, who is in charge of keeping track of council attendance, about reinstatement, according to Rawlins.

Appelbaum could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The executive board decided to allow him to remain as acting treasurer and to retain his check-signing power because its next meeting will not be until Dec. 6