Repeated questions asked by Undergraduate Council members at Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) meetings have angered several top-ranking University officials.

The officials criticized student councillors for not providing them advance notice of impending questions--many of which have strayed far from the meeting's agenda.

And with ongoing popular elections this week, some candidates have labeled the questioning mere political posturing.

In a letter dated April 10, Secretary of the Faculty John B. Fox, Jr. '59 implored council President Robert M. Hyman '98-'97 to curb council members' increasingly frequent statements during meetings.

"I would urge you and your colleagues to be in touch with this office before raising matters on the Faculty floor, lest you jeopardize the courtesy [of] the chair [President Neil L. Rudenstine]," Fox wrote.

The warning came in response to the unprecedented number of councillors' comments made during last Wednesday's Faculty meeting.

According to the FAS "Rules of Faculty Procedure," only student members of the Committee on College Life, Committee on House Life and the Committee on Undergraduate Education are allowed to speak during a meeting--and then only on matters "relevant to the interest of these committees."

Although Hyman, Rawlins and Smith may attend the meeting as guests of Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles, they are technically unable to speak since they do not serve on any standing committee.

But in an interview last Thursday, Rudenstine said he felt council members should be able to address the FAS under certain circumstances.

In exchange, Rudenstine said, he hoped councillors would extend the Faculty prior notice of their questions, thereby enabling them to prepare answers before the meeting.

"It would be good if there were consultation between council members and the faculty ahead of time...that would be more effective," Rudenstine said.

At last Wednesday's Faculty Council meeting, however, Hyman and council secretary Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 each made impromptu addresses during a question-and-answer period.

Council Treasurer Edward B. Smith III '97 also spoke on Rudenstine's report titled "Diversity and Learning."

The outbursts have left Rudenstine visibly agitated at times.

When Hyman stood to be recognized at January's meeting, Rudenstine asked if Hyman were a member of the faculty, thus implying he could not speak.

After a sidebar conference with Fox, though, Rudenstine permitted Hyman to continue with his remarks.

But, in his letter, Fox reminded Hyman that Rudenstine has been "considerate in not asking students...to state at the outset on which Faculty committee they serve."

Hyman yesterday defended councillors' right to address the faculty.

"We will continue to press for student rights in that forum and in any other," Hyman said.

Hyman said councillors' actions have resulted in renewed commitments from the faculty to need-blind admissions--something Hyman says resulted from a question he asked during February's meeting.

Word on the Street

Because Hyman, Smith and Rawlins are all running for council executive positions in this week's campus-wide elections, some have questioned their motives.

Matthew B. Bakal '97, a presidential hopeful, described his opponents' speaking as "unfortunate."

Bakal said he felt Rawlins was abusing her position by asking irrelevant questions.

Rawlins failed to give the FAS committee prior notice before posing a question about gender inequity which would have been answered by a standing committee, according to Knowles.

Smith said councillors' unpreparedness makes the entire council appear unprofessional.

"When you ask a dean a question, it's best not to surprise them with it," Smith said. "It makes us look like we don't have other channels of communication.