Four Candidates Run for UC Presidency

Four candidates for Undergraduate Council president and their vice presidential running mates have garnered the signatures necessary to run in the upcoming election, the UC Election Commission announced in an e-mail late Monday.

The presidential candidates­—Michael C. George ’14, Spenser R. Goodman ’14, Tara Raghuveer ’14, and Akshay M. Sharma ’14—will officially begin campaigning on Nov. 7.

Raghuveer, this year’s only female presidential candidate, serves as the UC’s Vice Chair of the Student Relations Committee. During her time on the committee, she has focused on improving communication between the University and students. She also serves as a UC liaison to the Institute of Politics and as a representative on the Student Faculty Committee for Campus Safety.

Beyond the UC, Raghuveer is involved with the Crimson Key, Hasty Pudding Theatricals, and is a former Crimson FM writer.

She is joined by running mate Jen Q. Y. Zhu ’14, a UC veteran who joined as a freshman.

Akshay Sharma and his vice presidential candidate Akanksha Sharma ’14 promise to confuse students with their similar names and backgrounds. Both live in Cabot House, although they are not blockmates, are members of Crimson Key, and serve as Peer Advising Fellows.

Akanksha Sharma clarified in an email that the two “are not siblings, not dating, not twins, and definitely not spouses. But they are great friends.”

The two bring UC experience and public service to their ticket. Akshay Sharma serves as the UC’s Gender Parity Representative, and Akanksha Sharma has served on the Finance and Student Life Committees.

Goodman, a representative since freshman year and the chair of the Social Programs Committee, has focused on improving social life on campus. He planned last year’s all-school dance and helped bring the cast of Buried Life to campus.

For the past two years Goodman has served as Yardfest chair for the College Events Board. He is also a member of the varsity swim team. Goodman is joined by running mate Darren C. McLeod ’14.

George, who is also a Crimson news editor, has served for two years as a member of the UC executive board. He currently chairs the Committee on Student Life where he has focused on creating social space and working with the administration to improve the student experience.

This year, George and his committee fought to expand Lamont library’s hours during reading and exam period, a change the administration announced they would make earlier this month.

Running alongside George is VP candidate Nicole E. Granath ’15, the only UC outsider in this race.

Campaigning, which was originally to begin on Nov. 5, has been moved back by two days in light of the Nov. 6 U.S. Presidential election, according to the UC Election Commission. Online voting is slated to open on Nov. 12 and close on Nov. 15.

—Staff writer Quinn D. Hatoff can be reached at quinnhatoff@college.harvard.edu.