The ability to delegate and hold people accountable will make Darst more successful than his competitors at reforming the council, Chadbourne says.

“We really need a president and vice president who are going to respect the ability and authority of the UC and trust them to get the job done,” Chadbourne says. “The two things go hand in hand in David.”

“What the UC needs is for someone to really take off in a new direction, and I feel he’s the best person to do that—he has those skills,” says council member Blake J. Boulerice ’04.

Council Veteran

Supporters say Simon’s five semesters of experience on the council compensate for Darst’s inexperience.

As vice-chair of SAC, Simon says she has worked to eliminate phone bills, reduce the Core Curriculum requirement by one course, improve the study abroad program and extend House dining hall party hours until 2 a.m.

She says she plans to continue her work extending student services by pressing the College administration for 24-hour universal keycard access in the Houses, more blue-light Centrex phones and expanded late-night shuttle service to the Quad.

“Shira will be the type of vice president who does a lot. She’s going to be stepping up, she’ll be as involved in the administration as David,” Chadbourne says. “David has great visions, Shira has great experience.”

Beyond her legislative successes, Simon’s role on the council and on the Leverett House Committee, of which she is social chair, has brought her into contact with a large number of students. Her strengths lie in her ability to connect with them, says Leverett HoCo co-chair Michal Y. Spechler ’03.

“She’s very diplomatic,” Spechler says. “Obviously no one likes everybody they encounter, and she has worked really well with everyone on the committee.”

“All of the major SAC achievements Rohit has done, Shira has been involved in,” Boulerice says of presidential candidate Rohit Chopra ’04. “The thing that Shira has is her personality, the way she deals with things.”

“Shira’s better able to lead, more respected, and has a very strong personality,” he adds. “She always stands up for not only what she believes in, but what other people believe in as well.”

Rough Start

The Darst-Simon campaign trail has been a rocky one thus far.

The candidates racked up substantial fines at their campaign’s outset due to early campaigning and illegal postering in the lobby of Quincy House.