Subhead: Constituent's speech wins over Council, Seton

In a surprise twist, the Undergraduate Council decided last night not to approve an increase in students' term bill fees sponsored and championed by council President Noah Z. Seton '00 only last week.

Council members said the measure to raise the optional fee, which is automatically attached to students' term bills, was widely expected to pass in one form or another before last night's meeting. Instead, the council will refer the matter, with Seton's blessing, to the student body in the second campus-wide referendum on the issue.

Last year's referendum was supported by a majority of voters, but too few students voted to make the measure binding.

In a move that is sure to make the term bill increase a hot issue for this year's council presidential campaign, the referendum will be attached to the presidential ballot in December.

Council representatives say the decision to refer the matter to students was largely due to the efforts of Bradley L. Davis '01, who was a council representative last year but no longer holds the position.

A Dark Horse