Smith wants to make the council "a campus-wide clearinghouse for information," Smith said.

Smith said he would like to see the council put together publications that would simplify guidelines for students, such as a pamphlet on what to do if you've been exposed to AIDS.

Additionally, Smith alleges the Nelson-Grimmelmann Act, under which Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 may approve certain council legislation, strips the council of any power it might have, according to Smith.

The act must be appealed needs to be repealed, he says.

"The ball is in our court," said Smith. "And lately, the U.C. has not been playing its best game. I want things to change."

On a lighter note, Smith says, "The president of the U.C. has to be someone you trust to represent you, but also someone you'd be psyched to hang out with on a Saturday night."

Michael R. Petitpas '95-'97

Previous U.C. Experience: None

Key Positions: Using age and maturity to get things done

In 1994, David L. Hanselman '94-'95 ran for council president with the odds stacked against him: he'd been away from campus for a year, his classmates had graduated and his contacts were few.

But Hanselman capitalized on his status as an outsider with maturity. And he won.

Michael R. Petitpas '95-'97 of Pforzheimer House is trying to follow in Hanselman's footsteps.

Petitpas doesn't offer much in the way of fresh ideas--he promises to tackle old favorites like Core reform, ethnic studies and housing.

Instead, like Hanselman, he's banking primarily on his age and maturity.

"It's time for me to give back to the college," Petitpas said. "What I hope to offer most is leadership. The council needs an outside perspective."