Kuran '08 resigns from U-Council post

Facing pressure from the USG, Kent Kuran '08 resigned from the U-Council this weekend, explaining that he did not have enough time to devote to the job.

Kuran was elected vice president of Tower Club earlier this month and said that, on top of his other commitments, eating club officership left him too busy to be an effective member of the U-Council, a committee of nine who work with the USG Senate and represent the USG in meetings of the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC).

"I was confronted by another member of the U-Council who told me that since I didn't really have anything to show for my past semester as a U-Councilor, my membership would be up for review," Kuran said in an interview. "She was correct in her [assessment] in that I had a number of ideas, but I had essentially failed to push them forward to completion."

Rather than stay on the U-Council with even less time to commit to USG projects, Kuran said he "decided it was best ... to give another person a shot."

The USG is accepting applications from students to fill the vacancy left by Kuran.

Other eating club officers also participate in the USG, including Cottage Club president Vincent Ley '08, who serves on the U-Council.

"I think it was a personal preference on Kent's part," USG president Rob Biederman '08 said. "He felt like it would just not work."

U-Councilors spend several hours a week attending meetings of the U-Council and one of its subcommittees. They simultaneously work on individual projects as members of the USG Senate, Biederman said.

Support nonprofit student journalism. Donate to the ‘Prince’. Donate now »

In an email sent to all undergraduates, Biederman announced the vacancy and solicited applications from students hoping to become Kuran's successor.

The USG anticipates between 75 and 100 applications for Kuran's spot, based on past U-Councilor vacancies. It will select several students from that pool for further interviews before naming its choice, who will serve until U-Councilors are up for reelection in April.

Resignations from the U-Council are rare, though in recent years Biederman and Jeremy Johnson '07 have both left the U-Council. Biederman gave up his seat when he was elected USG vice president.

The executive committee wants to choose a new U-Councilor who can focus on specifics, U-Council Chair Liz Gough '07 said. "We really hope that people will come to us ... with really concrete ideas and things they want to start working on right away."

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Biederman and Gough said they preferred a freshman or a sophomore successor, since freshmen have not yet had the chance to run for U-Council, and no members of the Class of 2009 were elected to the body last year.

"We will give a special look to [applicants from the two classes], assuming they are strong candidates," Gough said, explaining that students without the pressures of independent work are often able to devote more energy to extracurricular tasks.

"Obviously, it's disappointing to lose a member," Gough added. "[Kent] was especially useful in a lot of discussions that have been taking place about four-year colleges, eating clubs and [many] of the other major topics that have come up this year."

Biederman noted that, though the U-Council would be temporarily hampered by the loss of a member, Kuran "in no way abrogated his responsibility to the student body."

"He didn't feel like he could give his all to both," Gough said. "I think it's a pretty noble move."