YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor

Yale College Council polls opened Thursday morning at 9 a.m., as senator and First-Year Class Council candidates ramp up campaigning on campus issues like to-go boxes, free printing and greater campus cohesion. 

Seventeen candidates who the News spoke with highlighted accessibility and improvements to campus services as foremost concerns for the student body, especially first years. Michael Andrade Maldonado ’28, a candidate running for Benjamin Franklin College’s vacant senate seat, emphasized the need for practical changes to make campus life more manageable. 

“One of my main goals is to ensure that essential services like free laundry and printing are available to all students,” Maldonado said. “Students, especially freshmen, are juggling a lot, from academics to extracurriculars. It’s crucial that we remove barriers to basic services to make our lives a bit easier.”

Maldonado highlighted the burden that current policies place on students, noting that easy access to these services can greatly alleviate daily stress. 

Tiffani Baik ’26, another candidate for Franklin’s senate seat, shared similar accessibility concerns. 

Baik told the News that the lack of to-go containers and table-top napkins in dining halls both negatively impact student accessibility and serve as inefficient sustainability measures. 

“I think that if Yale actually wants to reduce food cost and food waste, it starts with bringing back-to-go boxes and actually managing waste,” Baik said. “Our current system is fragmented, with each dining hall having a different composting setup. We need a centralized system to truly address waste management and support our sustainability goals while preserving accessibility.” 

Still, many FCC candidates acknowledge that the council’s limited jurisdiction regarding campus policy could hinder efforts for substantive change. Ryan Chen ’28, an FCC candidate in Ezra Stiles College, told the News that his campaign has focused more on event planning rather than policy promises. 

“Obviously, FCC has a reduced role in student government,” says Chen. “While I certainly plan on talking to the rest of the YCC if elected and communicating with administration on issues like to-go boxes or free laundry, I think our role in YCC will be more directed at organizing events and being a channel for feedback from our peers.” 

Another major issue for candidates was inclusivity and social cohesion, particularly between different residential colleges and cohorts. 

Thy Luong ’28, an FCC candidate from Saybrook College, emphasized the importance of making first-year students feel included and supported. 

“I think that a lot of freshmen are feeling untethered and disconnected right now,” Luong said. “I truly believe that being approachable and creating opportunities for students to share their concerns is crucial in making them feel integrated into the campus community.”

Her platform includes improving communication channels so that students feel more comfortable voicing their concerns and knowing that they have support. 

Andrea Bylykbashi ’28, an FCC candidate from Pierson College, told the News he is focused on creating a more inclusive environment for all students. 

“This is purely anecdotal experience, but I’ve noticed that freshmen can sometimes feel discouraged from applying to specific clubs or events,” Bylykbashi said. “There is a sense that certain organizations require hidden expertise that freshmen do not have or connections to people freshmen do not know.” 

Bylykbashi said he hopes to serve as a definitive and tangible channel of communication with the administration to express these concerns. 

Other candidates hope to accelerate social bonds between freshmen and upperclassmen. Kylee Hamamoto ’28, an FCC candidate from Pierson, told the News she wants first-years to develop close mentorship relationships early on. 

“One of the things I’ve come to understand is that upperclassmen are a wealth of knowledge– whether that be about study spots, weather, culture or even adjusting to the pace of living at a place like Yale,” said Hamamoto. “I want every first-year on campus to have access to someone like that who they can develop a close relationship with, whether that be through increased funding for mentorship programs or opportunities to connect with and find mentors on campus.” 

Max Ringelstein ’28, an FCC candidate from Silliman College, also highlighted the disparity between the first-year class and other cohorts. Ringelstein said that his top priorities are facilitating “intermingling” between first-years and upperclassmen. He told the News that he hopes to put together a first-year guide to help his peers confidently get to know their peers.

Surya Mohan ’28, an FCC candidate in Davenport College, told the News that she wants to see more collaboration between residential colleges. 

“There’s a big emphasis on your own little college, and while I absolutely love my residential community, I’d like to see freshmen more comfortable with branching out,” Mohan said. “I think more freshmen-wide events like a first-year talent show and working to increase turnout at intramural sports games would help mix our communities and really showcase the spirit of our class.” 

Most of the candidates the news spoke with expressed positive sentiment towards the campaigning process so far. Bylykbashi told the News that seeing the energy of peers excited to improve the first-year experience has been encouraging.

Yale College Council election polls will close tomorrow at 9 p.m. 

Correction 9/14: The earlier version of the article incorrectly stated Tiffani Baik’s name.