"People don't necessarily have to agree with every plank in the platform of the Student's Bill of Rights. I want to be sure there is a diversity of view-points," Hyman said.
Interest in joining the council is on the whole, very high, said Election Commission member Gregory M. Heestand'98.
The Election Commission has worked on the more traditional methods of recruitment, postering, advertising and tabling.
As of last night, the Election Commission received 58 candidacy forms and expects a great deal more by the deadline at 5 p.m. today. At that time, candidates may begin their campaigns for the elections scheduled for October 2 to 4.
One hundred and thirty-two students ran for the council's 88 seats last fall. That number was bolstered by the three dozen candidates running under the umbrella of the Progressive Undergraduate Council Coalition (PUCC), which is now defunct.
Just 99 students ran for the council in 1994.
But this year's Election Commission members are confident that competition will be heated.
"[The election] is definitely on students' minds," said Heestand. "I'm confident that we're going to have a great turnout."