For the first five minutes after learning of his victory in the race for the Undergraduate Council presidency, Danny P. Bicknell ’13 stood speechless in the center of his Mather common room, surrounded by a crowd of supporters chanting, “DP, DP, DP,” drowning out the traditional Harvard Glee Club serenade.
With her running mate lost for words, UC vice-president-elect Pratyusha Yalamanchi ’13 stepped in.
“When we first started running,[current UC president Senan Ebrahim ’12] told us that by the end, one of us would be crying as the other stood by for support,” Yalamanchi said.
“Senan thought that it would be me,” she added.
Only with the arrival of his younger brother David Bicknell ’15 did the president-elect break out of his shock to address his friends and campaign staff.
“You guys have been literally the most amazing people I have ever worked with,” Bicknell said.
Several minutes later, a knock on the door interrupted the party, and the crowd fell silent as Bicknell’s floor tutor Jonathan Darrow entered.
“I know Danny just won the UC elections and a little bit of celebration is required,” Darrow said.
“But actually a lot of celebration is in order,” he added, popping open a bottle of champagne and spraying the newly elected leaders.
The party for competitors Crystal D. Trejo ’13 and David H.A. LeBoeuf ’13, which relocated at the last minute to a Winthrop common room, was a more subdued affair.
After sharing the results, Trejo and LeBoeuf addressed the dozen friends and campaign staff who had gathered to await the news.
“I don’t think that I’ve ever had such an exciting two weeks,” Trejo said.
LeBoeuf, who currently serves as the UC Rules Committee Chair, emphasized his continued commitment to the Council.
“Remember guys, the campaign doesn’t end here,” he said. “We’ve started something great.”
With the two leading tickets hosting parties for campaign staff and friends, third-place ticket Ryan P. Halprin ’12 and Aneliese K. Palmer ’12 opted to attend the Harvard-Yale pep rally that took place Thursday evening in the Queen’s Head Pub instead of hosting their own festivities.
Staff members for both the Bicknell-Yalamanchi and Trejo-LeBoeuf tickets expressed their happiness with the campaign as they celebrated the end of a strenuous two weeks.
“It could be worse. The third ticket could’ve won.” Trejo-LeBoeuf supporter Kevin Garcia ’14 said.
“Or Occupy could’ve won,” he added.
—Rachael E. Apfel contributed reporting to this story.
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