To the Editor:
We are deeply disturbed by the recent Undergraduate Council of Students special elections - elections which lacked transparency and failed to include the viewpoints of many Brown students. The recent actions of UCS make the body look more like a bureaucratic organization governed by nepotism and insider trading than a democratic body that truly seeks student input.
Wednesday's internal elections were totally out of line with recent efforts by UCS to increase student input and participation. UCS leaders seem to be suggesting that they want student input, but only on their own terms.
Some may argue that logistical difficulties and time constraints would have made an open election impossible. We find it hard to believe that a campus-wide WebCT election with a range of candidates was not a viable option. How can UCS claim to be a representative student governing council when its leaders do not have the mandate of the students?
Chris Hu '06Michael Smallberg '06Kartik Venkatesh '06Feb. 2
