Elbs, Delaney Campaign for HUA on Transparency, Propose Biweekly Reports and Expanded Events

Tobias Elbs ’27 and Isaac K. Delaney ’27 are running for the Harvard Undergraduate Association co-presidency on a platform centered on expanding communication — including a proposal to introduce biweekly reports detailing HUA activity, conversations with administrators, and updates on student concerns.

For Elbs, a former HUA co-treasurer, and Delaney, who has not previously served in the organization, the proposal reflects what they see as a broader problem: many students do not feel the presence of the HUA in their day-to-day lives.

“The frequent communication thing is huge to me,” Delaney said. “I don’t feel the HUA regularly as a regular student, from a pure, tangible sense — hearing what they’re doing, finding out what they’ve done week in, week out.”

Their campaign, which they frame as rooted in service, emphasizes transparency, visibility, and what they describe as a more realistic approach in student government. The pair — both international students from Germany and the United Kingdom, respectively — said their experiences navigating Harvard without preexisting ties have shaped their focus on communication.

“As two international students, Harvard has become our home, away from home,” Delaney said at a Crimson-hosted debate on Sunday. “We believe that the HUA co-presidency is a position of service, and we would like the opportunity to serve you and create a student government which is as caring and as efficient as possible.”

Elbs, who served as HUA co-treasurer during the 2024-25 academic year, pointed to his experience overseeing funding for more than 300 student organizations as central to his candidacy during the debate. In that role, he advocated for making the student activities fee mandatory while ensuring it remained covered by financial aid.

He said the position also gave him insight into the logistical challenges of running an organization as big as the HUA.

“We definitely want to make sure that funding is coming out again on time,” Elbs said, though he noted that funding timelines are tied in part to when Harvard released SAF revenue.

Delaney added that improving transparency around those delays is equally important.

“In terms of the delays in club funding, people should know while it’s happening,” he said. “People should understand why they’re funding is delayed, and I think that’s something that the HUA should certainly take into account,” he added.

Elbs said he considered running for HUA co-president last year, but instead chose to focus on supporting international students as the Trump administration attempted to ban students from abroad from enrolling.

Current HUA co-president Caleb N. Thompson ’27 described Elbs as a “very dear friend” and said that he is truly dedicated to his service mission.

“He has expressed to me many times and to other people as well, that he found his voice through HUA, and that that was like a welcoming space for him where he could make an impact and serve people,” Thompson said.

“I trust nobody more,” he added.

Beyond funding, the pair said they want to host large, campus-wide gatherings as a way to build opportunities for direct feedback.

Elbs pointed to events held during his tenure, including Welcome Week programming and end-of-semester activities, which he said regularly drew hundreds of students.

“I think the one thing that did not happen as much this year was this type of event,” he said.

In addition to large events, the pair proposed expanding partnerships with affinity and cultural organizations to host smaller discussions with administrators and faculty.

“There’s many different collaborations that the HUA could do,” Elbs said, “where we can invite administrators and faculty and have discussions about concerns that students have.”

On the impending faculty vote on the controversial proposal to cap A grades, the two said they opposed the policy, but cautioned that the HUA’s role is to advocate for student perspectives — not to promise specific outcomes.

“We’re going to be fiercely advocating for the student body and against the grading policy,” Delaney added. “But, I think, genuine leadership also requires us to be realistic and honest about what we can do.”

Elbs echoed that stance, arguing that overpromising risks undermining trust in student government.

“It doesn’t help us if the HUA, every year goes out, makes promises that they cannot hold,” he said.

—Staff writer Alexa M. Schmitt can be reached at [email protected] or Signal at alexaschmitt.15. Follow her on X ​​@alexa_m15_s.