HUA: WHAT YOU HAVEN’T HEARD?
March 30th, 2024
As the ice is finally thawing and midterms are coming into full swing, let’s reflect on some of the many initiatives the HUA took to build a united Harvard. From running a program to provide shuttles to the airport to handing out care packages in the Science Center to make finals a bit more bearable, it has been a busy and rewarding semester!
One of the largest initiatives this semester was the Winter Shuttle Pilot Program. This program, a part of the United4Change branch and organized by Co-Directors of Advocacy Vanessa Iwuoha & Joshua Eneji, provided Harvard College free and accessible transportation to Boston Logan International Airport for winter break. In addition, a rideshare program to partner students with each other to save money was also implemented as an alternative. The programs were ran over a period of three days, reducing travel costs for over 200 Harvard students!
The HUA wellbeing team worked hard to make finals feel a little less hectic! During finals week, officers passed out care packages in the Science Center, including snacks, notebooks, and (very-needed) stress balls. It was an immense success—even with the busy nature of finals, all packages were picked up!
The HUA First-Year team has been working diligently all year to create fun spaces on campus to boost belonging and ease the transition to college life. They have successfully run multiple events, including enhanced brain-breaks and the highly attended First Year Super Bowl watch party, pictured above. This event packed a decorated Queen’s Head Pub, where students ate wings, watched the Big Game, and shared laughs with their newfound community! No matter if students were rooting for the Eagles or were disappointed Chief fans, they had a blast watching Kendrick Lamar with their friends.
The Academic Team has been working to enrich your school experience all year long, and the embodiment of this dedication was Concentration Declaration Day! Hundreds of sophomores gather to eat delicious pizza, pose with their concentration banner, and spend time with friends. This momentous occasion brough together the sophomore class to celebrate an incredibly important milestone in their academic journey (and of course take some Instagram pics)!
The Residential Life Team strives to ensure campus living is the best it can be for Harvard Students. One of their largest accomplishments was the BLUEbikes voucher distribution. 500 free vouchers were handed out to students in the Science Center Plaza, making travel to class or even a fun Boston stroll more equitable. Additionally, they secured free laundry detergent in Harvard laundry rooms, removing barriers and ensuring all students had access to clean clothing. This initiative promoted not only accessibility but eco-friendliness as well, as all free materials were climate conscious.
The HUA Social Life Team has been diligently developing programs to enhance the Harvard social and preprofessional experience. Recently, they ran a free professional headshot day, providing Harvard students with the first step to nailing a job application. Additionally, to alleviate academic stress, they ran a hot cocoa Reading Period Recharge session. Hundreds of students met in the Science Center to destress, enjoy some sweet treats, and celebrate a successful semester!
On a similar note, the HUA Inclusion Team provided a DIY care package during Finals. Over 250 Harvard students were able to mix and match their favorite snacks, drinks, and school supplies to make a stressful time just a bit more fun!
All in all, the HUA and our lovely subteams focus on creating a Harvard that fosters a sense of community, develops academic and professional skills, and above all cultivates unity. We are so excited to continue this mission through even more upcoming initiatives, and we wish you the best (and warmest) spring break!