"No one would have called Kamil on that," Darling says. "The popularity of an officer can let you get away with a lot." Others agree.

"VP's have routinely done a bad job of attendance," writes Todd E. Plants '01. "The only real difference is that there are a bunch of people that actively dislike John, so they point it out."

Two months after the council voted to impeach Burton for alleged campaign violations, Burton continues to struggle to win the respect of the council--even while some of his most vocal critics admit he is doing a competent job.

"He's doing better now," Darling offers. "[But] I don't think he's earned back respect at all."

Catch-22

The job of vice president, as described in the council's constitution, is very limited: Burton's direct responsibilities include taking attendance and keeping the council's office clean.

Like many vice presidents before him, Burton is faced with the challenge of how to expand this role. But unlike former second-in-commands, Burton has been forced to negotiate a more delicate course in the wake of his February impeachment.

In its immediate aftermath, Burton and council President Fentrice D. Driskell '01 both acknowledged that they would have to deal with what many saw as a no-confidence vote in the newly elected vice president.