Advertisement

Open Letter to '50

THE MAIL

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

This letter is addressed to the Class of 1950 because it concerns it. In know a CRIMSON editorial has dealt with the subject, but the subject deserves a little more than the cursory glance so far given it. In the course of our recent Permanent Class Committee election certain irregularities appeared that merited interest. Now I want to ask a few questions about them.

The Paul Report of December 1947 (the Report of the Special Student Council Committee on Class Affairs) and its two amendments explaining the election rules constitute the adopted procedure for College elections. Why was this procedure so grossly neglected in so many details?

I want to know why the simple, mechanical process of running an election was termed "chaos" by a ballot counters and did indeed seem to be chaos.

I want to know why adequate safeguards to the Class of 1950 against election fraud, the inherent right of any electorate, were so conveniently forgotten.

Advertisement

I said the election procedure was neglected; let me list a few illustrative details, comparing twelve points of the Paul Report with that procedure actually used:

1.) The Student Council Member in Charge of Class Affairs (the man ultimately responsible for the running of class elections) must be a senior.

William S. Tyson '49, Student Council Member in Charge of Class Affairs, was officially a member of the Junior Class. The appointment of Donald L. Bornstein '50, a senior, to the Student Council of November 7, 1949 neither makes Tyson's appointment in order, nor justifies his retaining the position.

2.) The chairman of the election committee, the man directly responsible for the running of the Permanent Class Committee election, must be a member of the Junior Class and a member of the Student Council.

F. Martin Bowne '51, chairman of the Permanent Class Committee election committee, was not and is not a member of the Student Council.

3.) The nominating committee member from each House must be chosen by the respective House Committees.

The members of the nominating committee were chosen by agencies other than House Committees in at least four Houses.

4.) The nomination committee must meet before November 15.

The nomination committee met on December 1.

5.) The nomination committee must nominate not less than 24 men and not more than 32 men including themselves (automatically nominated).

Advertisement