Ebrahim, Cao Inaugurated As UC Leaders

The Undergraduate Council inaugurated its new leaders—President Senan Ebrahim ’12 and Vice President Bonnie Cao ’12—during its final meeting of the semester yesterday afternoon.

As outgoing President Johnny F. Bowman ’11 popped a bottle of champagne, he and outgoing Vice President Eric N. Hysen ’11 swore in their successors.

“If I could leave the UC to any person,” said Bowman, “not just on the UC but in the world, I would leave it to Senan.”

Ebrahim and Cao were elected to office on November 18, defeating two competing tickets.

As their first pieces of legislation as a ticket, Ebrahim and Cao put forward two acts commemorating the work of their predecessors. Under the Hysen History Act, in honor of the outgoing Vice President, the Council will form a committee to investigate and document the UC’s 28-year history over winter break.

In addition, the Council honored this past year’s president with the “John ‘Johnny’ F. Bowman Chill Out Act,” which resolved to keep the UC “chill, always.”

“I remember when I was a freshman on the UC it wasn’t a lot of fun,” Ebrahim said. “Things just got really awesome [under Bowman].”

During the meeting, the Council also voted Elm Representative Michael A. George ’14 as UC Secretary and Dunster Representative Pratyusha Yalamanchi ’13 as the Council’s Treasurer. Rounding out the UC’s executive board, the Council announced the new chairs of the five executive committees.

The Council also wrapped up ongoing projects with several pieces of legislation.

In an effort to make students aware of the inaugural Optional Winter Activities Week—the final week of winter break in which all students can return to campus to participate in activities and events—the UC implemented a plan to publicize OWAW with a combination of tabling and e-mails to the student community.

“If this OWAW flops, we’ll go back to having nothing during winter break,” Ebrahim said.

In response to the recent string of robberies on and around campus, the Council passed legislation to publicize the Harvard University Campus Escort Program, which provides a safe walk home for students. This was the first of several intended initiatives to address the issue of safety on campus over the course of the coming semester, said Ivy Yard Representative Akshay Sharma ’14.

The Council also set aside $3000 to hire a web developer to improve online services for students next semester, including a revamped Shuttleboy application.

In addition, the UC’s Education Committee published a position paper on first year advising, with recommendations including an advising training program and an award for an outstanding freshman advisor.

—Staff writer Stephanie B. Garlock can be reached at sgarlock@college.harvard.edu.                                                             —Staff writer Rebecca D. Robbins can be reached at rrobbins@college.harvard.edu.