Courtesy of Mimi Papathanasopoulos and Esha Garg

This past Sunday, the Yale College Council Senate passed three policy proposals inspired by student needs and feedback: expanding safety net conditions regarding course materials and travel expenses, increasing summer financial aid for FGLI students and raising daily flex plan points by 100 points. 

Now, YCC President Mimi Papathanasopoulos ’26 and Vice President Esha Garg ’26 will negotiate, advocate and collaborate with Yale administrators to advance the implementation of these policies. 

“We are focused on making the YCC a true student advocacy group by proactively reaching out and fostering collaboration with student organizations and the administration,” Papathanasopoulos and Garg wrote in a joint statement to the News of their broader goals for the year. 

Papathanasopoulos and Garg were elected on a joint ticket last spring and officially started their term in May. 

As YCC leaders, Papathanasopoulos and Garg meet regularly with Yale administrative leaders to discuss study body needs and propose changes to student policy. In their platform and campaign, Papathanasopoulos and Garg promised to focus foremost on student engagement, mental health and advocating for the student body with the administration. 

Four months into their term and three weeks into the 2024-25 school year, Papathanasopoulos and Garg are working to fulfill these promises. 

“We will work closely with Yale Health and Yale Mental Health and Counseling to address long wait times and ensure all students can access timely, high-quality care,” they wrote. “We’re also advocating for expanded accessibility services across campus to ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive, both academically and personally.” 

Papathanasopoulos and Garg wrote that dining reform and expanding financial resources available to student clubs and organizations are other top priorities for them. 

Additionally, the pair said they are also focused on expanding support for first-generation and low-income students by working with the administration to institutionalize policies to “ensure the continuity and impact of YCC programs for future years” beyond temporary or pilot programs. 

Papathanasopoulos and Garg said they will “prioritize carrying over successful initiatives from last year,” such as reimbursement for transportation to Yale Health and meal vouchers over academic break, but will also work towards turning these YCC programs into institutionalized Yale policies. 

YCC Speaker of the Senate Emily Hettinger ’26 wrote to the News that “making Yale more financially accessible for low income and middle class students,” is also one of her policy priorities for the year. She also wants to ensure that menstrual product dispensers on campus are always stocked and fight for free and clean laundry.

As a speaker, Hettinger also plans to increase student involvement with the YCC, through formal and informal avenues, and work with administrators to advance policy proposals.

Sophomore Class Council President Andrew Boanoh ’27 wrote to the News that he is committed to “bridging the gaps between communities on campus that have historically not interacted as much.”

“I want to incentivize attendance at sporting, theatrical, musical, and other events so that students feel like their talents and efforts are just as appreciated outside of the classroom as they are inside of it,” Boanoh wrote. “One thing that Yale has never failed to provide is a world-class education: I simply hope to emulate that quality with the extent to which we support our peers’ extracurricular interests.”

In his capacity as YCC cultural and religious policy director, Boanoh has already met with University Chaplain Maytal Saltiel and Yale College’s Dean of Student Engagement Burgwell Howard to discuss how they can best cultivate unity and togetherness on campus in the months ahead. 

Papathanasopoulos and Garg wrote to the News that working with University President Maurie McInnis, who also began her term during the summer, has been an “exciting opportunity” to bring fresh energy and perspective to their efforts. 

Papathanasopoulos and Garg met with McInnis at the beginning of the semester, and wrote that she “expressed interest in hearing and addressing student concerns.” 

The official YCC instagram is @yalecollegecouncil.