"We associate Rawlins with Hyman and she's been a name that we associate with the U.C. for a lot longer," said Currier House resident Lanhee J. Chen '99. "O'Mary doesn't have nearly the same amount of name recognition as Rawlins does.... Experience was probably an issue."

That helps explain the victory of vice-presidential candidate Mark A. Price '98, who is both a visible councillor and a member of several campus groups.

He was endorsed by The Crimson. He was keeper of the U.C. sound system. And people say he's a pleasant fellow.

"He might not have had too many posters around campus, but a lot of people knew that Mark was a good guy," said Lowell House resident Elisabeth A. Tomlinson '99.

Price worked hard, too, sending e-mail messages out to members of the Black Men's Forum. He also said being endorsed by The Crimson helped spread his name around campus.

"Being the only vice-presidential candidate officially endorsed by the Crimson left the idea in people's minds that I was a good choice," Price said.

And now that the elections have passed, Rawlins and Price can set about the business of governing.

It's not the easiest task, as Rawlins must know. She and outgoing president Robert M. Hyman '98 both won popularly-elected contests in April. But the council itself was mired in factionalism under their leadership.

Price says he'll work hard to keep that from happening again. "I would like to see a gentler, kinder era dawn for the U.C.