Bonner also wants to generate more student interest in the council. In fact, she calls the public perception of the group her “biggest challenge.”

After talking to many students, Bonner says she has noticed that their first question is almost always “What does the UC do?” if not “What is the UC?”

“The idea that there are a lot of people who don’t care about the UC is disappointing,” she says.

She says she sees the council as important because of its potential for causing change on campus.

“It has the potential to influence the City of Cambridge regulations, the curriculum, student life and pretty dramatically improve students’ experience in college,” she says.

She proposes using house e-mail lists, proctor groups, and conducting polls to increase council visibility.

Next year, Bonner promises, “things will pick up. We have a budget specifically for publicity. The tools of publicity are under used.”

Behind the Platform

Bonner—who is a Lowell House resident, a native of New York City and a government department concentrator—is a self-proclaimed idealist who says she believes “the world can be a better place.”

She served as a first-year representative on the council last year, and though she was not re-elected this year, decided to run for President anyway.

“Coming out of freshman year, being a little disenchanted by the fact that the UC isn’t meeting its potential, coupled with a lot of excitement for what it could be doing, makes me feel like I can run and do a good job,” she says.

Bonner co-chaired the First-Year Formal Committee, worked on advising issues and organized several events to better acquaint rising sophomores with their new Houses.

Bonner says that many people have told her, “‘You should run. I would care about the UC if you ran.’”

Long is an economics concentrator in Adams House and a member of the Varsity ski team, Christian Impact and Athletes in Action.

He values these groups for the “grounding” they provide him in maintaining his values and their respect for “people who are clean-cut and goal-oriented.”