PBHA Chooses New Leadership

After celebrating its centennial commitment to public service this past weekend, the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) Cabinet met last night to elect the top nine officers who will lead the group next year.

The top two posts-president and executive vice president--were first up for grabs, but few were grabbing.

In fact, the team of Trevor S. Cox '01-'02 and Andrew Park '01-'02 swept the two positions, respectively, uncontested. Jan Hridel '02 and Rebecca A. Windt '02 were elected treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Two fund-raisers, two programmers, and an events coordinator were also elected, but the results were not available at press time.

But because the highest positions were chosen first and three of the top four positions were uncontested, the evening was more a low-key discussion of PBHA past and present than a battle for titles.

Cox, who has worked extensively within PBHA since his sophomore year, used his speech time to reflect on the group's achievements and to look ahead to new opportunities.

"We have to realize why PBHA exists and maximize what we do as a group," Cox said. "We officers must try to make the organization run as smoothly as possible."

Park said Cox and he had developed an excellent partnership in their previous work together, particularly as teachers in the Refugee Youth Term Enrichment program.

"PBHA has filled a very important part of my Harvard experience," Park said in his acceptance address. "It was an eye-opening experience."

The duo proposed several new ideas, which focused on uniting and strengthening the PBHA community.

Cox stressed the link with group alumni, who "share a common mission and a common love for PBHA." His suggestions included further integrating the Board of Trustees, a mixed student and non-student governing organization within Phillips Brooks House.

Park spoke more to the fund-raising aspect of PBHA, noting the bounty that lies in untapped corporate donations. Such funding would relieve some of the burden on alumni, thus further improving relations, he said.

As Cox and Park took their seats, however, the two candidates for treasurer braced for a tightly contested, albeit friendly, election.

In the end, Hridel claimed victory over Aalap A. Mahadevia '02, although both candidates had previous fundraising experience and expressed a willingness to unite the many groups with Phillips Brooks House.

The secretary's seat went uncontested to Windt, who stressed communication.

Windt promised accessibility and clarity within her post, including a system of weekly e-mails to other cabinet members.

Natalie Guerrier '01, the current president of PBHA, will yield to Cox and the new guard on inauguration day, February 1.

"I'm really excited about all the new officers, and I'm very happy to see such an interest in running for officer positions," Guerrier said.

Amidst the electoral proceedings, the other cabinet members took time to thank Guerrier for her devotion to Phillips Brooks House as president.