More generally, the Plants/Wikler platform attempts to straddle the ideological divide between progressive politics and student services; they hope to appeal to a broad constituency.

As a three-term council representative, Plants has often spoken for progressive issues, such as banning dining hall grapes and endorsing same-sex marriage laws. He is also a council "progressive" in the tradition of former council presidents Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 and Robert M. Hyman '98. Plants has criticized initiatives to cut the council's size, shorten debates and limit the role of the council to student services.

But now, although the progressive Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters' Alliance (BGLTSA) has endorsed Plants, he and Wikler are talking more about student services than hate-crime legislation.

As first-years stand in their doorways, he tells them how he plans to improve academic advising and student group funding.

"The most important thing the council can do is student services," Plants says. "But I think we often confuse most with only. It's so easy to limit yourself too much. My student government has no limits."

And the ideas flooding out of the Plants-Wikler campaign headquarters at Greenough 103 seem limitless in scope. Build a student center. Set up workout facilities in the Yard. "Establish a women's center." "Rock concerts in Sanders." "Cheap cell phones."

Some of these proposals spring from the candidates' extracurricular involvement. Wikler's interest in improved athletic facilities stems from his involvement in first-year heavyweight crew. Plants' technology proposals are linked to his job as an Eliot House User Assistant. Both are active in theatre groups that they would like to support with more funds and space.