We hope that challenge funding will become a way for the council to provide tangible action in exercising its leadership role in the Harvard community. The council should continue to do what it has shown that it can do well: objectively distribute student group funding, plan events such as Springfest, lobby the administration for changes such as universal key card access and provide services such as UC Books.
But the council must also not be afraid to amplify its voice on pressing issues in the community and serve a leader among Harvard students and student groups. Challenge funding is a way to bring about this amplification. However, the success of challenge funding depends on the students and student groups of Harvard College.
Joseph P. Chase '02, a Crimson editor, is a social studies concentrator in Dunster House. He is an Undergraduate Council representative and a co-sponsor of the challenge funding bill.