An administrative conflict over scheduling Undergraduate Council elections led to heated words on the council's e-mail list last week, prompting some representatives to question whether Vice President John A. Burton '01 has the political capital to perform his job effectively.

Last week, the council's executive board overruled Burton's decision about the date of upcoming special elections.

Burton has been pressured to step down from his post in recent weeks because of allegations he took more than 100 buttons from the resource center of the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters' Alliance without permission for use in his campaign.

Council members say that Burton's subsequent loss of authority has led the council to question--and in this most recent case, overturn--his decisions as vice president.

"[Burton] doesn't have much political clout. If he says something, there going to be, at least for a while, a question about whether that's the right thing, and the best thing for the council," says council secretary James R. Griffin '02.

The latest controversy surrounds the timing of the council's special elections--held to fill seats vacated by individual council members who resign their seats or are removed from the council during the course of the year. Special elections typically occur several times a year.

According to former Vice President Kamil E. Redmond '00, the elections are usually organized by the vice president and are rarely cause for controversy.

Burton, who could not be reached for comment for this article, wanted to hold the special elections between Feb. 2 and Feb. 4. However, the council's executive board overruled his decision, setting the elections for Feb. 9 through Feb. 11.