News Brief: Catholic Student Association Elects New Slate of Leaders; Brewer To Focus on Outreach

After yesterday’s Candlemass celebration, which was held in the upper church at St. Paul’s Parish, the Harvard-Radcliffe Catholic Student Association (CSA) named its new leadership for 2006.

Michael V. Brewer ’07 will take on the leadership role of CSA president for the upcoming year.

All Harvard undergrads who attended student mass on Sunday, Dec. 11 were eligible to vote in the elections. Between 200 and 300 students cast votes on the 14-person ballot, estimated outgoing CSA President Anna Lonyai ’06.

In an e-mail, Brewer wrote that his major goal as incoming CSA president is to “strengthen the Harvard Catholic community and make the CSA a more inviting and welcoming institution to outsiders.”

Brewer also wrote that he aimed to “develop better ties with other religious student groups on campus.”

Lonyai described this past year as having been successful for the CSA. “I think we’ve become more responsive to students’ concerns,” she said. “We have a great sense of community.”

The CSA currently boasts over 15 committees, each of which can be classified under three major sectors: spirituality, social justice, and community development. The CSA also boasts a social committee and Bible study group.

The four students with the most votes after the president were selected for vice-presidential positions in the CSA—Rosa E. Beltran ’08 for social justice, Sarah E. Stein ’08 for communications and finance, Elizabeth R. Considine ’07 for spirituality, and Sarah M. Kinsella ’07 for community development.

“I am very humbled by the privilege to serve as President, and I look forward to the next semester,” Brewer wrote in an e-mail. “The CSA was a home away from home for me as a freshman, and I want to provide that same resource for incoming students in the next semesters.”

Lonyai, who is also a Crimson editor, said that she is confident Brewer will be up to the challenges that come along with the role of president.

“I think Michael will guide the CSA with dedication and understanding of the diverse views representative of the CSA,” said Lonyai. “He is a man of ideas.”