In 1998, Noah Z. Seton ’00 and Kamil E. Redmond ’00 launched a campaign for the Undergraduate Council presidency and vice presidency that matched two students of contrasting ideologies—one a right-leaning student leader cozy with administrators, the other a noted liberal activist.

This odd couple won by capitalizing on the broad base of support they received from different constituencies of students on campus.

This year, Fred O. Smith ’04 and Justin R. Chapa ’05 hope to do the same.

While Smith has spent his time away from the council fighting for the rights of transgendered students and advocating for greater diversity in the Faculty, Chapa has been a prominent board member of the Harvard Republican Club (HRC).

But the pair, who are running for the council presidency and vice presidency say their contrasting ideologies will only make their tenure—and campaign—stronger.

“Along an ideological spectrum we’re very different,” Chapa says. “But there’s a difference between national government and party affiliation and what goes on at Harvard.”

In fact, Smith, who is vice chair of the council’s Finance Committee, and Chapa say that if their campaign is successful, it could mean a radical step away from the political focus of the council’s past.

“If we do this, it would smash that forever,” Smith says.

Their campaign has already showcased this non-partisan ideal.

Members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement and HRC and a former editor of the conservative Harvard Salient magazine held signs in front of the Science Center and canvassed first-year dorms for the Smith-Chapa campaign this past week.

Smith and Chapa are hoping a wide base of student support will help them beat the candidate they call the “Goliath” of the race, Rohit Chopra ’04.

“I think it started out as David and Goliath,” Smith says. “I think that the arrow is about to hit Goliath. It’s going in as we speak.”

Opposing Politics

Last April, members of several liberal student groups—with Smith in the forefront—gathered in the Yard wearing white masks in a silent protest of lack of diversity in the curriculum.

A papier-mâché replication of Summers’ head with dollar signs for eyes was the centerpiece of the rally.