"One of the problems is I like to talk, and I'd spend a half-hour with every person," he says of a losing bid for student body president in high school. "My opponent cut classes to shake hands--I had issues and ideas."

Gusmorino says a council president's personality should take a back seat to his plans for the student body.

He says his campaign will focus on "the issues," and by issues, Gusmorino means using the council to provide concrete services for students--like cheaper telephone rates and textbooks. "The past year has been a mixed bag," Gusmorino said. "What we want to do is bring the focus of the U.C. from the president and vice president to back on services for students."

Gusmorino cites the creation of "U.C. boxes" and an investigation into "even cheaper phone rates" as logical extensions of the council's current money saving programs.

The boxes program would use the bulk buying power of the council to provide students with a moving-out week staple: cardboard boxes, for at-cost prices.

Gusmorino says he would continue to look into negotiating cheaper phone rates, following the success he and Plants had in lowering rates last fall. Now, a focus could be on negotiating discount cellular phone service for students.

Though he could make no concrete promises, Gusmorino says he will fight for parties that are allowed to continue past the current 1 a.m. deadline.