Moving to internal council issues, Lee also promised a more lively council atmosphere, with a social time before each meeting and refreshments.

She jokingly mentioned the headline the Crimson used to introduce her campaign, “Social Clubbers Preach Girl Power,” to announce “a departure from the stereotype the UC has been buried beneath.”

Lee explained that the council is perceived as “uncool and unconnected to the student body,” and that she will strive to change this image.

Lee also proposed specific steps towards improving the efficacy and efficiency of the council. She plans to cap meeting lengths and make sure that each member is working on a council project.

“I want each representative to dedicate themselves to a project that he or she is passionate about so that there are 50 projects by the end of the semester,” she said.

Recognizing the lack of dialogue among student groups on campus, Lee said she will establish a student groups liaison who will “communicate with all the student groups on campus on campus to publicize our own efforts and get input from student groups.”

In her speech, Fernandez called the council the “best resource on campus,” and promised make it live up to its potential.

“As vice president I see it as my duty to make sure the UC is a well-oiled machine,” she said.

“We want to achieve real and broad changes to improve the lives of the students of Harvard College,” said Fernandez at the conclusion of her speech.

After Lee and Fernandez’s speeches, the council held elections for the positions of treasurer and secretary, electing Eric J. Powell ’04 as treasurer and Tamara Klajn ’05 as secretary.

—Staff writer Claire A. Pasternack can be reached at cpastern@fas.harvard.edu.