Ahead of Local Elections, Harvard Grad Student Union Released Voter Guide

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On Thursday, Harvard’s graduate student union released a voting guide that includes information about candidates running in the upcoming municipal elections take place Nov. 5 in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, which.

From the three cities 32 candidates in different jurisdictions received different versions of the survey tailored to issues relevant to their constituents replied to the union’s questionnaire.

Samuel D. Keaser Union organizer and Harvard Divinity School student, who helped put together this year’s guide states that the purpose of creating it was to make sure union members and other Harvard voters are aware of the candidates’ positions on a “range of issues,” in particular, the rights of student union members. He highlighted the survey questions that probed support for student workers’ rights to organize and strike

This voter guide also addressed the issue of affordable housing and replies from candidates whether they would support a proposed affordable housing zoning overlay. Some candidates argued that Harvard has contributed to the housing problem in the city.

The University announced in August that it was reassuring to a $20 million program to facilitate affordable housing development in Cambridge and the greater Boston area. According to Brigid O’Rourke an University spokesperson, since 2000 this fund has helped create more than 1,600 units of affordable housing in the city. She stated in an email that Harvard has the capacity to house nearly half of its graduate students and houses nearly all of its undergraduates on campus.

The guide also addressed Harvard’s role in contending climate change, which has become a significant issue in the council election.

Most of the candidates echoed their calls for Harvard to divest its endowment from fossil fuels. Mayor Marc C. McGovern said in the guide, he is “proud” he joined Divest Harvard in recent demonstrations for divestment.

He added “We must work with Harvard, push Harvard, and demand that Harvard do its part part in addressing climate change, and it starts with their divestment from fossil fuels.”