UA Chair Lichtman known

Maybe he should be called the King of Compromise. Student government this year is faring better in campus conventional wisdom than in the past, and Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Jeff Lichtman is simultaneously pleasing students and administrators. At nearly the half-way point in his term as UA chair, Lichtman is a strong student advocate, campus leaders said this week. They praised the College senior for being the eyes and ears and mouths of undergraduates and credited him for his ability to compromise and to form coalitions, bringing together students and administrators. Lichtman has made few -- if any -- enemies in his term, which may be a result of his having tackled almost no controversial issues on campus. He has met with administrators. He has organized a UA Outreach Committee to stay in contact with student groups across the University. He has led the UA in running voter and bicycle registration drives. And he has issued resolutions supporting various campus groups such as DuBois House and the Women's Center. But who would object to any of these? · "[Jeff is] very effective in comparison to [the past] UA, [especially in] consensus building," said UA Advisor Fran Walker, who is also director of student life activities and facilities. "[He is] very skilled at bringing people with divergent opinions together." Earlier this semester, the UA and Larry Moneta, associate vice provost for University Life, co-sponsored a student leaders' reception so students active on campus could meet one another and discuss common interests. And UA members said that Lichtman's groundbreaking efforts have begun to pay off. UA Vice Chairperson Kirsten Bartok said that members of many University student groups have begun to approach the UA with ideas for joint programs. "We are reaching out to students [and are] more representative than ever," said Bartok, a College junior. You-Lee Kim, a University student government veteran, said that Lichtman is leading a UA that is more effective than last year. "Last year it was chaos [with a] lack of organization," said Kim, Student Activities Council Steering Committee liaison to the UA, who last year served as United Minorities Council chairperson. "Jeff knows what the issues are [and] knows the school much better [than past UA Chair Mitch Winston]." Bartok also praised the way Lichtman took control of a UA which previously lacked much respect from students and administrators. "Considering where we've started from, [we've done] more this semester than all last year," said Bartok, a College junior. "The administration respects us, the students respect us," she said. Although Lichtman has fielded criticisms that he is a pawn of the administration -- a student voicing the attitudes and opinions of administrators rather than students -- those affiliated with the UA disagree. Walker said that all students who work closely with members of the faculty and administration run the risk of being called a pawn. Bartok -- who said she is the UA member who works closest with Lichtman -- said Lichtman is able to strike a balance between being friendly with administrators and being forceful about issues that are important to students. "He always comes down on the side of students," Bartok said reassuringly. "Jeff's friendships work as a benefit to students." "You don't want to be adversarial with administrators all the time," warned Bartok. "[But at times] we've pissed off the administration." · Last month, Lichtman -- normally a level-headed political type, already trained to speak in sound-bites -- made his first, and only, public outburst against administrators, blasting them for not including student representatives on a University committee restructuring Escort Service. The UA chair raised the issue first at a closed meeting of the University Council Steering Committee, and then addressed the full body at an open University Council meeting a week later. Lichtman, who addressesd the president's advisory body with a controlled anger and forcefulness, took an indisputable stand for students without fear of alienating faculty or administrators who were in the wrong. It took until the third month of his administration for Lichtman to go out on a limb. Walker said Lichtman's "very strong statement" made it evident that he "was clearly very angry." "He didn't have to make a public statement [at UC]," Walker said. "That [he made a statement], to me, is being a student advocate." Besides that one incident, Lichtman has straddled a fence, attempting to please both students and administrators. Soon after his outburst -- which seemed to be the start of a rejuvenation for the UA chair -- Lichtman sent a letter to Council members explaining his position. But again, he retreated from his initial anger. "We essay this explicitly; not to harbor ill will or dwell on past oversights, but to protect the integrity of the system and insure that this structure is upheld in the future," the letter reads. Some people question how long the leader can continue to pull off his balancing act. "He's not a guy who likes to rock the boat," said Kim, a College senior. "He wants to give people a chance." She said Lichtman can be a "very persuasive person, if he uses his persuasion to maximum effect." "Whether he wants to use [his ability] to have a meaningful effect, that's his choice," Kim said. "Is he satisfactory [as UA chairperson]? Yes." Bartok contends that Lichtman's non-confrontational, middle-of-the-road method of leadership is effective. "[I am] continuously surprised by what a leader he is," Bartok said. "I've seen him push, I've seen him be strong. He always has the best interest of students at heart." And Walker said that part of Lichtman's power is related to the fact that he asks for others' input. She said he is one of the first UA chairpersons in years to consult other student leaders and "use the [UA] steering committee as a sounding board for ideas." She said many people find this difficult because no leaders want to put their power in question. "[Lichtman makes] leaders of other organizations feel like they're working for one purpose," Walker said. · Lichtman acknowledged last night that the UA has a "responsibility for jumping on issues that do bother students," but he insisted that "there are things being done." He said the UA is involved with planning the futures of Locust Walk and the Revlon Center. He said he has received a verbal commitment from the Vice Provost for University Life's office that the UA will have a say in the future of 3609-11 and the former Theta Xi house on Locust Walk. He also said the UA is organizing a letter-writing drive to University Trustees regarding the importance of the new student center. "[Our efforts] may not be flashy right now, [but] it is important to know we are working behind the scenes," Lichtman said. The King of Compromise's biggest challenge now is to apply his historic attitude of compromise to substantive University issues during his reign's second half.