A slim majority of candidates for Undergraduate Council president this year support Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis' decision to seek a unilateral term bill raise, even though a student referendum to raise the fee failed narrowly last year.

But two candidates for the post--Justin A. Barkley '02 and B.J. Averell '02--say they opposed the decision and intend to make it a major issue in next week's presidential election.

Lewis announced last week that he will seek to raise the term bill fee, even without a referendum of student support. He will propose the increase at next week's Committee on College Life meeting.

Every year since 1983, the council has been funded the same way: through an optional $20 term bill fee. But because of inflation, that money only buys 60 percent of what it did in 1983. Adjusted for inflation, the term bill fee would now be $33.50.

Some candidates now say the council's financial situation is dire enough to justify Lewis' decision to propose the hike.

But other candidates have objected to the spirit of Lewis' actions--even while admitting that the council's finances threaten its legitimacy.

Barkley introduced a resolution this week in the council's Student Affairs Committee (SAC) asking Lewis not to raise the fee.

"The UC is abdicating its duty to represent students by not demanding that this go to a referendum," he says.