Undergraduate Association releases 2024 election results
Class council results revealed, referendum two passes
In an email sent to the MIT undergraduate community March 23, the Undergraduate Association (UA) revealed the results for the 2024 UA Election. Up on this year’s ballot were the spots of UA President and Vice President, 2025 and 2026 Class Councils, and two referendums. Referendum one failed: the second referendum passed. 2112 total undergraduates participated, accounting for 46.15 percent of the undergraduate student body.
The first referendum did not pass, receiving a split of 628 “Yes” votes and 1057 “No” votes. The contents of the referendum involved a resolution on whether or not student leader and volunteer positions should be paid. Student positions that are recognized by this referendum included by are not limited to resident student governments, Institute Committee representatives, and Class Councils.
The second referendum, said that if adopted, would call for the UA to back a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and condemn the suspension of pro-Palestine organizations on campus. This referendum passed with 1209 votes for “Yes” and 688 votes for “No,” which constituted a 63.73 percent majority.
In an interview with The Tech, Rishika Bansal ’26, UA Vice-President-Elect, stated that Referendum one not passing means that the UA will still continue to keep going, much like they “have operated the last however many years.”
“As to why it didn’t pass, I think it’s the same reason why my initial thought to this referendum was ‘no,’” Bansal said. “We have student leaders and other groups, and they’re not paid. We have dorm governments, and they’re not paid. So, why would we pay the UA then?”
Bansal acknowledged that although there was an argument to be had about this issue considering other schools do pay their undergraduate government leadership, including Harvard, but added that there is no reason to specifically fund student leadership roles compared to other roles.
Regarding the topic of the second referendum, Bansal said that the UA officers are discussing how to handle the matter.
“We’re trying to adhere to what the referendum states and respect the fact that it did pass through the correct processes,” Bansal said. She highlighted how the UA is taking careful steps to very much respect the referendum’s wording, and that this referendum will be “applicable throughout [the next school year].”
Enoch Ellis ’26, UA President-Elect, stated that if the motions for the second referendum “plays out the way that they should,” then the implementation should “all be handled before [the UA officers] transition administratively.” Ellis further said that President Sally Kornbluth has already been notified of this referendum, so the current UA administration is “working with her to honor the word of the referendum.”
Bansal clarified that the UA “can really only advocate for something.” The UA does not have executive power over the MIT administration, so they “cannot force professors or MIT to do something.”
Four students were written in as nominees in total for the positions of Secretary and Social Chair in the 2025 Class Council and Treasurer and Social Chair in the 2026 Class Council.
The election results are as follows for the Class of 2025.
Position: Name, (Votes For)
President Megha Vemuri, 381
Vice President: Grace Li, 337
Treasurer: Ji Won Kim, 326
Secretary: Paula Contreras, 17 write-ins
Publicity Chair: Miles Hartley, 308
Social Chair: Kevin Waku, 31 write-ins
The election results are as follows for the Class of 2026.
Position: Name, (Votes For)
President: Heba Hussein, 364
Vice President: Elaine Wang, 320
Treasurer: Trace St. Julian, 26 write-ins
Secretary: Zac Nwogwugwu, 336
Publicity Chair: Kelly Heo, 334
Social Chair: Luke Anger, 6 write-ins
The dates for the Class Council of 2027 election is April 15, 8:00 a.m. and will close April 19, 5:00 p.m.. The petition packets are due April 6, 8:00 p.m..