Gusmorino said inviting deans to council meetings and initiating “UC Announce,” an e-mail list which informs subscribed students of campus events, are important keys to the movement towards greater openness.

Both before and after Gusmorino’s speech, for which he received a prolonged standing ovation, council members thanked each other and outgoing seniors for the accomplishments of the semester.

Committee chairs—amidst much gushing praise—handed out candy, awards and other gifts to their underlings.

Campus Life Committee Chair Robert M. Gee ’02 gave his co-chair, Melissa A. Eccleston ’04, a gigantic stuffed gorilla.

But the gratitude was mostly directed towards Gusmorino, who closed out his term with what many council members said is the unanimous support and approval of the council.

“Paul, you’ve become a part of Harvard history,” Lee said in her remarks before taking the oath of office.

—Staff writer William M. Rasmussen can be reached at wrasmuss@fas.harvard.edu.