The race for Undergraduate Council president got a little more crowded yesterday as two veterans of campus politics threw their hats into the ring.

Elizabeth A. Haynes '98 and Benjamin R. Kaplan '99 officially announced their candidacies, joining current council vice-president Lamelle D. Rawlins '99, who announced her presidential candidacy two weeks ago.

All three candidates ran for campus-wide office last spring, with Rawlins defeating Haynes for council vice-president and Kaplan finishing sixth in the presidential race.

According to Rawlins, she plans to run on her record of "fighting to make the council advocates for students," a history the others plan to question.

"I felt the council and its leadership aren't doing their job in responding to student concerns and needs," said Haynes, a former chair of the council's Student Affairs Committee, explaining her decision to run.

And Kaplan, a council representative, said he disagrees with the partisan nature of council politics under the leadership of the current council president, Robert M. Hyman '98-'97.

"Rob and Lamelle never disagree on anything," Kaplan said. "They kind of push their own personal agenda."

The Dynamics of the Race

Although candidates have until November 22 to declare their candidacy, the announcement means voters will have at least two women to choose from in the December 9 to 11 election.

Since the council has never had a female president, both women recognize the significance of two leading female contenders in the race.

"I applaud [Haynes] for running," Rawlins said. "I think it's time for Harvard students to have a woman as student body president."

Haynes downplayed the issue's significance as a central campaign theme.

"People will be able to make a decision based on qualifications, not gender," Haynes said. "If you feel gender is a qualification, then include it in your list."

Rawlins was quick to point out that she and Haynes represent very different perspectives.

"Liz and I are 100 percent opposed on many issues," Rawlins said. "I think it's a good thing that the student body will now have a choice between a conservative woman [Haynes] and a more progressive woman."