UC Creates Task Force to Plan Events

In its first general meeting of the semester, the Undergraduate Council launched a new initiative aimed at improving social life on campus.

The Council voted to create the Social Programs Task Force, a new committee that will be responsible for implementing a series of social events from now until the end of the semester.

UC Vice President, Bonnie Cao ’12, said that the Task Force was created largely to promote social life for the campus as a whole. While students often socialize in dorms, houses, and “segregated areas”, Cao said that this new committee would attempt to provide opportunities for students to socialize as an entire campus community.

Events will be selected, planned, and executed by the task force in collaboration with a variety of student groups on campus. “We know we are not going to be the premiere social programming group so we want to partner with other groups that will have means,” Cao said.

Such groups will include the College Events Board, First Year Social Committee, Harvard Concert Commission, and the Harvard Foundation.

Coordination has already begun with the College Event Board, and Cao said they are currently looking into the possibility of throwing a campus wide “End of Year” party. Other potential events that the Task Force is looking into include a Boston or Harvard-wide Concert for Charity, as well as a “Welcome Back” week or weekend, with campus-wide events before classes start next semester.

The UC has set aside $10,000 to fund the activities planned by the Task Force. Cao said that, based on the program’s success, this may not be enough money. “If that is the case,” Cao said, “We hope to convince administrators and deans that supporting a strong, campus-wide community is a necessity.”

—Staff writer Rachael E. Apfel can be reached at rachaelapfel@college.