The campaign, he worried, would be focused entirely on the term bill increase, instead of the more nuanced platforms of the individual candidates.

Last night, however, Seton said that Davis' speech had convinced him it would be a good thing to force candidates to take strong stances on a controversial issue.

"My initial feeling was that it didn't need to get wrapped up in politics of the election," Seton said, "but now I recognize that this election is going to be very much about the council in general rather than simply the candidates who are running."

Seton said he was convinced the referendum would pass because of the strong arguments in its favor, echoing one of Davis' earlier criticisms:

"Why do they think [a referendum] will fail?" Davis asked hypothetically. "It demonstrates a lack of faith in their own arguments."

Seton said he would campaign vigorously against any candidate who did not support the term bill increase.

"If [candidates] think of what the council does on campus, and what its mission is, and how it's equipped to fulfill that mission, they can't possibly oppose the term bill increase," Seton said.