And in the long term, Harvard Census 2000 was meant to begin a council tradition of formally collecting student input at regular intervals--a practice they hoped would fundamentally change the way students and administrators view the council.

Turning Driskell's goal into reality, however, has been an uphill battle from the start.

Problems started at the council level, where Driskell encountered immediate opposition from council conservatives, few of whom shared enthusiasm for the idea of a campus-wide survey.

While they concede that it can't do any harm, they doubt the efficacy of a general survey and have taken every opportunity to let the wind out of Census 2000's sails.

During an April 9 council meeting, Finance Committee Chair John P. Marshall '01--a frequent Driskell opponent--tried to cut the census's proposed $400 funding.

Although the council voted to keep the allocation at $400, it eliminated a clause in the bill that would have allowed members to reduce their number of absences by tabling for the census.

At later meetings, as well as over the council's open e-mail list, members continued to challenge the Driskell-led census work group about its choice of survey questions, in particular its queries on the appropriate role of the council.

Driskell distributed a list of sample question to the council that asked respondents how involved the council should be in "potentially controversial issues affecting students," like sexual assault and campus safety.