Questioning the ability of the Undergraduate Council to select members who are representative of the student body, the Faculty Council yesterday delayed a decision on whether the U.C. should select the student members of the Standing Committee on Public Service.

Four members of the U.C. presented a memo at the Faculty Council meeting requesting that the Faculty Council add two more students to the committee and allow the U.C. to pick the student representatives.

But Associate Professor of History Ellen Fitzpatrick asked how the U.C. could claim to be representative when the four members presenting the memo were all white males, according to U.C. President Robert M. Hyman '98-'97.

Fitzpatrick is a member of both the Faculty Council and the public service committee.

Hyman said he replied to Fitzpatrick's question by citing the fact that of all the students the U.C. selected to serve on faculty committees last semester, a majority were women.

"That trend has continued this semester," Hyman said.

Marco B. Simons '97, chair of the U.C.'s Student Affairs Committee, agreed that the council chooses a cross-section of the student body for its committees.

"Our process for selection is at least as inclusive and impartial and comprehensive as the Dean of the College's selection process," Simons said.

Hyman said he also cited the issues of concern to women that the U.C. has taken up this year, such as offering rape aggression defense classes.

The discussion of the diversity of the U.C. led some Faculty Council members to say that the discussion was fruitless.

"I don't have any comment on that," said Baird Professor of Physics Gary J. Feldman. "There was no discussion today in the Faculty Council of the substantive issues."

However, others said they thought the discussion was productive.

"I walked out very optimistic, very enthusiastic," Hyman said. "The questions that were asked suggested an understanding or agreement with our basic concerns."

"I thought in general they greeted us with an open mind," said U.C. Treasurer Edward B. Smith III '97, who is a Crimson editor.

Smith said members of the U.C., PBHA and HAND met with individual Faculty Council members before the meeting to discuss their concerns.

Simons said the U.C. members agreed at the meeting that PBHA and HAND should each have spots on the committee.