Meet the UC Candidates

You’ve probably seen the UC presidential hopefuls stumping for votes outside the Science Center this week, whether it’s Ebrahim-Cao and Coe-Li with their traditional campaign banners or Jones-Davis with their more adventurous pogo-sticking Tigger exhibition. With all three campaigns for UC leadership in full gear and voting set to begin this coming Monday, here is a pre-election campaign rundown.

We’ll introduce you to the candidates, their campaigns, and their stand on what’s been billed as the central issue of this year’s campaign: social life at Harvard.

MATT S. COE-ODESS ’12/TENGBO LI ’12

Coe-Odess is a psychology major in Kirkland House with a “painfully pale, smiling face,” according to a sometimes humorous bio on his campaign website.

“You may know him as the blond kid who takes your laundry at HSA cleaners, or perhaps you recognize his name from the Freshmen IM Staff. You may have even heard his obnoxious, boisterous laugh in the yard as he gives tours to foreigners who probably can’t understand him,” his bio reads.

Running mate and Pfoho economics concentrator Li hails from Brighton, Michigan, whose town motto is “Where quality is a way of life.” Aside from the UC, Tengbo has been involved in The Harvard Undergraduate Research Journal and the IOP, according to their campaign website.

Slogan: "A UC That Sees You. Your ideas. Your Harvard."

UC Experience: Coe-Odess: Social Life Task Force Chair, Li: Education Committee Chair.

Endorsements: Veritas Financial Group

Ideas for improving campus social life/social space: Reducing rental fees for dining hall and common room events, hosting more non-alcoholic events (including through DAPA), partnering with other Boston universities for more multi-college social events, more tailgates and post-game parties at athletic events.

To see more, go to their website.

SENAN EBRAHIM '12/BONNIE CAO '12

Presidential candidate Ebrahim is a neurobiology concentrator who hails from Quincy (but San Jose, Calif., originally).

“[Ebrahim] is contemplating an advocacy effort to relocate Harvard University to a tropical island,” according to a tongue-in-cheek part of his website. Besides being chair of the Student Life Committee, his other activities include Engineering Without Borders, Harvard Undergraduate Research Association, and the Harvard Mountaineering Club.

A government concentrator from Pfoho, Cao comes from Los Angeles and “as such will defend the Lakers to the death against drinkers of Boston haterade,” according to their campaign website. She’s also secretary of the Harvard-Radcliffe Chinese Students Association and active in the Institute of Politics.

Slogan: "Your vision. Your Voice. Your Solutions."

UC Experience: Senan: Chair of the Student Life Committee, Bonnie: Secretary of the UC.

Endorsements: Harvard College Democrats, Harvard Hong Kong Society, The Irish-American Society, The Opportunes

Ideas for improving campus social life/social space: UC rentals of large venue spaces for events, extended funding for off-campus venues, UC grants for fundraisers, an end of the year party, a free student concert (à la Yardfest).

To see more, go to their website.

COLLIN A. JONES '12/PETER D. DAVIS '12

Jones, a Quincy resident and comparative religion concentrator, competed in this year’s Chickwich Challenge, and you may recognize him as the face of Hahvahd Tours.  His vice-presidential candidate Davis, a Currier resident and government concentrator from Falls Church, Virginia, has acted for On Harvard Time. You may recognize him from his band Pete Davis and the Holy Smokes, which sometimes performs at the Queen’s Head Pub.

Slogan: "...Until we Run Out of Money, or Get Removed from Office."

UC Experience: None.

Endorsements: “I endorse Peter Davis for Vice President of the UC,” Jones said. “And I endorse Collin Jones for President of the UC,” Davis said.

Ideas for improving campus social life/social space: Jones and Davis advocate “working with what we have—Pusey Library, the foyer of Sever, Greenhouse Cafe, and Lamont Cafe before 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.”

To see more, go to their website.

(For a more in-depth information on the candidates, look out for The Crimson’s feature stories on all three UC tickets, to be published next week.)