Baala Shakya, Staff Photographer

On Sunday, students filled the auditorium of LC 102 for the annual Yale College Council presidential, vice presidential and events director candidate debates. 

The debate, moderated by YCC Vice President Esha Garg ’26 and the News’ Editor in Chief and President Tristan Hernandez ’26, was held ahead of the YCC election. Three presidential, two vice presidential and two event director candidates shared their experiences, visions for Yale and policy platforms. 

Garg and YCC President Mimi Papathanasopoulos ’26 issued a joint statement following the debate, saying it was “especially exciting.” Their favorite moments were the plethora of student questions and engagement during the event.

“All of the candidates did an incredible job, and we are so proud of them,” Papathanasopoulos and Garg wrote to the News. “This was a really full circle moment — from being an audience member to speaking on stage to moderating the debate, it’s so exciting to see and experience the progression of YCC administrations. We hope students continue to connect with the candidates because they are the future leaders of YCC.”

Students will be able to cast their votes via Yale Connect from Thursday, April 10, at 9 a.m. to Friday, April 11, at 9 p.m.

Presidential candidates lay out visions

In their opening statements, presidential candidates set the tone for their debate.

Andrew Boanoh ’27, who is running on a ticket with vice presidential candidate Jalen Bradley ’27, focused on the future and shared his vision for a Yale where students feel understood and heard. 

Diego Paz ’27, running with Berkeley Senator Emily Nguyen ’27, discussed the present, a campus divided by politics and a yearning for administrative transparency. 

Brian Moore ’26, a YCC outsider running on a solo ticket without vice presidential endorsement, admitted to being “scared shitless,” having little experience with student government but a sincere involvement with the New Haven community and extracurricular groups. 

As the current YCC director for cultural and religious policy, Boanoh addressed a “dissonance” in the way that students perceive the YCC.

“The student body sees the YCC as an entity that is cold and somewhat distant,” Boanoh said. “But I want you to think about the YCC as a powerful partner, not necessarily a governing body. I want you to think about the YCC not as a cold stranger, but a really well-connected and well-funded friend.”

Much of Boanoh’s discussion centered around the importance of diversity and student engagement. He hopes to increase transparency and accessibility to information about University administration through the points in his “Yale4You” vision — “a campus where students not only can express themselves,” but also “feel empowered to do so, knowing that their voices are being heard.”

Paz talked about his work as YCC senator for Pauli Murray College this year, including passing policies to increase the value of meal vouchers during recesses, streamline the housing process and offer more religious accommodations.

At the debate, he proposed renegotiating the laundry system contract to secure free laundry, reform dining hall hours and adjust Flex point inflation.

“The future of the YCC depends on how much students feel connected to them,” Paz said. “I know that we have lacked in our ability to reach the large reaches of all of the student body and I’m committed to ensuring better. Yale does not end with change, but it starts with ensuring that all students feel represented in our work.”

Moore spoke on the inner workings of Dwight Hall and New Haven’s nonprofit opportunities, which he has been involved with during his time at Yale. 

After acknowledging that becoming president would introduce a “pretty big learning curve” — as he has never been a part of the YCC — Moore hopes to “stir the pot,” demand administrative transparency and beg the question he believes many students on campus are wondering, “Maurie, what the hell?”

“I don’t have much experience, but what you can trust me on is that I don’t take ‘No’ for an answer,” Moore said. 

“What we need is a fresh perspective, and I believe that I’m the kind of person who does everything,” Moore added, referencing his engagement with the New Haven community. “I appreciate the diverse perspectives of Yale, and I sense the suffering of residents outside of Phelps Gates, and I want to advocate for both of those voices.”

Vice presidential candidates debate equity, transparency

In her opening statement, Nguyen, current academic policy deputy director for the Yale College Council and Berkeley College Senator, touched on her first-generation, low-income background and emphasized the importance of administrative transparency. For the rest of the debate, she focused on creating the “Better Yale,” a slogan for her and Paz’s ticket.

“A Better Yale is a Yale that provides resources for students in all regards,” Nguyen said. “This includes free printing, free laundry, and stipends for traveling to make life at Yale more accessible.”

Bradley, current Timothy Dwight Senator, discussed the importance of what he called “the little things” that offer feasibility and day-to-day support. 

Bradley hopes to increase transparency about conversations and collaboration with administration, especially on contentious policy proposals such as the divestment referendum, as well as promote sustainability through installing water filling stations in residential colleges and menstrual products in cultural centers.

“I think as vice president, it would be my responsibility to include diverse voices in every single conversation, no matter how long that conversation is going to take,” Bradley said.

Nguyen spent much of her rebuttal querying Bradley on his intentions and stances. She questioned the possible overreach he might exercise as a male advocate for menstrual equity and his abstention during a vote for a proposal that would promote inclusivity in the selection of policy chairs.

Bradley responded by offering that he intends to surround himself with a team of individuals familiar with key issues and that his abstinence was a result of a lack of understanding. He also proposed that students visit “The Cloud,” a website he and his running mate Boanoh created to respond to various student inputs.

Event director candidates share their programming proposals 

Maggie Chen ’27 and Kingson Wills ’26, candidates for the event director’s office, offered their visions for student programming.

Chen, the current deputy student body events director, discussed the importance of curating well-organized events that bring lasting memories to the student body. She detailed her experience assisting in the planning of the Night at the Museum event at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, the Halloween trail rides and various pre-professional conferences.

“What makes Yale feel like home is the students that make up the vibrant Yale community,” Chen said. “Beyond academics, we all need moments to connect, whether it’s celebrating traditions, discussing new experiences or just having fun with each other.”

She also detailed her plans to integrate voices from cultural centers and different classes into campus event planning.

Wills’ platform is largely a continuation of the work he currently does as Junior Class Council president. Opting to stand in his opening statement, despite moderator Garg audibly requesting he sit, Wills emphasized the importance of “bureaucracy, bureaucracy, bureaucracy.”

He went on to say that he believes the events director has more power than the president, managing a large budget of $65,000. Wills hopes to put this budget towards events such as local restaurant crawls, field trips into New Haven and an annual installation of this year’s intercultural food market.

When moderators asked him why he was interested in the position, granted he is a rising senior, Wills chalked it up to the importance of community.

“What motivates me to continue this again is the community and that belief that people can come together,” Wills said. “Our main purpose in this is to help students connect more, and through this, I’m going to get to help engage with the various people we have here, and I wanted to build on my experience as a student class president to do that.”

Polls for the Spring 2025 Yale College Council election will open on Thursday, April 10, at 9 a.m. on Yale Connect.