Problems emerged again in November 2001, when Anne M. Fernandez ’03, who was the council treasurer at the time and who had been planning a presidential bid with then-council Finance Committee Chair Trisha S. Dasgupta ’03, decided instead to run for vice president alongside then-council Vice President Sujean S. Lee ’03.

The Lee-Fernandez ticket won, despite Dasgupta’s claim that Fernandez reneged on a formal agreement.

According to the constitution and bylaws of the council, a popular vote by the College student body determines the president and vice president.

The council is not the only organization with recent democratic electoral problems.

Two months into the last academic year, the College Dems were divided when an e-mail was sent out encouraging non-Democrats to join the club for the sole purpose of voting for Geoffrey F. Reed ’03, a candidate for the club’s presidency.

John F. Bash ’03, Reed’s friend, sent two e-mails plugging Reed’s candidacy, including one that asked recipients to join the College Dems, regardless of political affiliation.

Reed sent out an e-mail of apology soon after Bash’s e-mails, disavowing any responsibility for them and stating that he does not support non-Democrats joining for electoral reasons.

Sonia H. Kastner ’03, who ran against Reed and condemned the e-mails, ultimately won the presidential race.

All members of the College Dems are permitted to vote for the president.

This procedure of direct election, while it may enhance the representation it provides for members, might also lend itself to electoral problems.

Kastner says that the democratic election of the council’s president and vice president may occasionally give rise to problems, but that such difficulties are worth the price.

“A lot of times, these election scandals get blown out of proportion,” she says. “For all the positions, really good people were elected.”

Scandal also struck HRC elections two years ago.

Robert R. Porter ’00-’02 and Erin L. Sheley ’02, who were running for the club’s presidency and vice presidency, respectively, had urged non-Republicans to join the organization for the purpose of voting in the election. Other candidates employed similar tactics, according to club members.

“Nobody broke the rules,” says current HRC President Brian C. Grech ’03. “They kind of pushed the line of how far you can go to run for president.”