Though a majority of Undergraduate Council of Students members - 54.3 percent - hold a favorable opinion of the Council, a significant minority have 'no opinion' of UCS, according to a recent Herald Poll. Only 2.7 percent of UCS members hold a negative opinion of the group.
The 43 percent of UCS members without an opinion on their organization is on par with previous years's results, though responses where phrased differently. In the spring 2008 poll, 39 percent of members replied "Don't know/Don't give a shit."
UCS President Brian Becker '09 said he was "satisfied" by the majority approval rating. He added that the high proportions of UCS members with no opinion was "of no concern to (him)."
UCS Communications Chair Clay Wertheimer '10 said "The members that do have an opinion on (UCS) approve of their own activities overwhelmingly. We need to reach out to the rest of the Council (and) let them know what issues they've been working on and how they're affecting life on campus."
Several first-year members of UCS said they did not have enough information to form an opinion.
"I thought I was circulating a petition to legalize same-sex marriage in the Sudan," said Anna Vose '12, "But instead the signatures got me onto UCS."
"I can't form an opinion of the council until I know their position on same-sex marriage in the Sudan," added Vose, who has yet to attend a meeting.
One member said he was unable to form an opinion of the council despite dedicated participation.
"I attend every meeting and take notes," Samuel Leon '12, a general body member, said. But, he added, "I'm still not sure exactly what UCS is."
UCS is not the only campus organization reacting to the poll results. Students for a Democratic Society member Joe Johns '10 called the poll results "troubling."
"UCS is so closed, they don't even know what they do. Brown SDS sees it as our responsibility to bring transparency to the Council," Howard said. SDS members forced their way into last week's UCS meeting, where Vice President Mike McCombie '10 escorted them to the couches reserved for members of the public.
