"In the end, the statistics of how much the council has done this year, I think, says the most about factionalism on the council," Hyman says.

Differing Visions

Much of the conflict appears to stem from differing visions of what student government at Harvard should attempt to accomplish, Kasper says.

Indeed, Haynes says that PUCC's aggressive pursuit of its progressive agenda on the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) prompted her to resign as chair and switch to the Campus Life Committee.

"Student Affairs issues are still the things I love most about the council," Haynes says. "But my vision of what SAC should work on was not the vision of the majority of the committee."

She cites academic and student life issues such as calendar reform, move-in and move-out times, Core reform and teaching fellow regulations as measures she would like SAC to work on, rather than on ethical issues.

Indeed, PUCC's stands on divestment are fruitless, according to Label.

"I don't think it should be avoided, but you're probably not going to have a lot of say in what the University does," says the former vice president, who resigned from the council because the council was not tackling academic issues. "Whatever you're going to pass is going to be completely symbolic."

The bulk of human rights work should be left to groups on campus specifically dedicated to those causes, such as Amnesty International, Haynes agrees.

On the flip side, several PUCC members feel that Campus Life Committee issues could also be better addressed by other organizations.

"I can fairly say that most PUCC members are not opposed to Campus Life issues, per se, but most of us don't want to spend all our time debating them," says Kasper.

And Simons says the increase in progressive issues has only expanded the council's role on campus.

Kasper says that the council has an obligation to educate and inform students.

"The council has to take a moral stand," he says. "The campus is seriously lacking in moral leadership."

"Some very vocal percentage of non-PUCC people think we should be only concerned with what goes on in the Yard," he adds. "But there is a role for active student government concerned by university business practices."