But some questioned how effective the council could be in only a year, given that it has little direct claim upon the administration with which to enforce its demands.

"In one year, you can't make a huge difference in an administration as large as this," said Frank X. Leonard '01 in response to a question about advising at Harvard. "I'm not going to promise that I can get you better advising by next December, but I'll give you a reasonable timeline."

The debate, which drew about 100 undergraduates, attracted no College administrators.

Presidential candidate Benjamin W. Dreyfus '01 took a more light-hearted approach to the debate and argued that the council should get more than the proposed $50 term-bill increase--$30,000 dollars more. He argued that students' entire tuition be sent directly to the council's coffers.

The other major issue of the night concerned the council's image. Council member Daniel E. Fernandez '03 asked the presidential candidates how they would combat the pervasive sentiment that the council was useless.

Candidates were quick to emphasize that they felt the council was an organization with tremendous potential, which required mostly tinkering and better public relations.

"It's really important for the president to be the single best PR branch of the council," said presidential candidate Todd E. Plants '01. "We need to develop more coverage, if not more favorable coverage."