The Heights is endorsing Jonah Renz and Addie Weiss for UGBC president and vice president.

After meeting with both tickets and reviewing their platforms, The Heights believes that Renz, CSOM ’27, and Weiss, MCAS ’27, offer the most pragmatic vision for UGBC. They combine UGBC experience with fresh ideas for strengthening the campus community and improving transparency with students.

Both Renz and Weiss have UGBC experience that relates directly to the offices they seek to hold. Currently, Renz serves as the UGBC coordinator of student initiatives, an executive branch position. Weiss has spent three years in the UGBC Senate, including as part of Senate leadership. Given that the vice president oversees the Senate, this background in the legislature would be immediately applicable.

And their experience shows. 

Renz and Weiss offer a platform that is both realistic and in tune with student needs. 

Here’s an example: They want each UGBC division to partner with a nonprofit, then volunteer with that organization at least once per semester. Amid student complaints that UGBC “doesn’t do anything,” we find this an admirable way for student leaders to make real change.

Renz and Weiss acknowledge that many students struggle to find community at Boston College, especially sophomores and transfer students living on CoRo. They propose a simple solution to this big problem: ping-pong tables. Considering these are already in some student dorms, this policy shows Renz and Weiss are not looking to reinvent the wheel—they know that sometimes the best policy is to build on what’s already there.

Renz and Weiss also expressed interest in improving UGBC’s internal dynamics. The pair said that current UGBC President Cami Kulbieda, LSEHD ’26, and Vice President Reagan Marino, MCAS ’26, place too strong an emphasis on maintaining administrative approval, sometimes at the cost of prioritizing student needs.

We know that admin relations are tough, and students must pick their battles. Even so, Renz and Weiss were clear that they would fight the battles that are most crucial to students. 

Specifically, Weiss voiced frustration with UGBC leadership’s rejection of a Senate initiative to condemn ICE presence near campus. Her position remains consistent with the one she articulated in an interview with The Heights last December, demonstrating an authentic commitment to this issue, not just campaign posturing.

That said, there were issues Renz and Weiss did not adequately address. 

For example, they proposed redirecting a portion of the $131,000 AHANA+ Leadership Council (ALC) budget toward scholarships for two AHANA+ students. We don’t think it would be appropriate for the students in UGBC to facilitate what are essentially cash handouts to other students. Instead of targeting a couple of individuals, they should focus on using ALC funds to help the wider AHANA+ community.

Further, the other ticket in this election, Mary Oliver, MCAS ’27, and Colin Snyder, MCAS ’27, surface issues that deserve attention.

For example, Oliver and Snyder were quick to point out the UGBC retreat’s $15,000 price tag, as well as ways that money could be better spent. They outlined four ways to reallocate the funds: heaters at BC bus stops, a food pantry program, expanded access to BC sporting events for low-income students, and a shuttle bus from BC to Logan Airport. 

To us, these all seemed like better and wider-reaching uses of funds than a retreat that only benefits UGBC members. 

While Renz and Weiss acknowledged that the UGBC retreat doesn’t provide direct return on investment for students, they stopped short of committing to spending the money elsewhere. 

As president of FACES, Oliver has a robust track record of advocating for student issues. That is reflected in Oliver and Snyder’s stated commitment to condemning ICE’s presence near campus. Oliver was the first BC student leader to formally condemn ICE last October.

This speaks to the strength of Oliver and Snyder’s messaging about building community on campus and addressing the experiences of marginalized students at BC. 

But while we like their intentions, some of their action items seem implausible. 

For example, Oliver and Snyder pitched a “Student Organization Summit,” a Model UN–style conference of student organizations aimed at drafting a “formal resolution of policy suggestions” for UGBC. According to Oliver, they would kick off this conference with two-minute presentations from all 337 organizations. Oliver plans to invite two representatives from each organization, as well as all 36 UGBC senators. 

That adds up to 710 attendees and 11 hours of speeches alone. This is to say nothing of the rest of the conference, which they said would include two more stages: one for small-group discussion and one for drafting the policy suggestions. 

Gathering over 700 students for a dayslong policy conference would be a Herculean task for what amounts to a list of things UGBC might do. We don’t think this would be a good use of UGBC resources.

Additionally, The Heights did not receive the Oliver-Snyder policy platform until nearly three hours after our interview with them ended. This oversight raised questions about the team’s preparation—questions that did not arise with the Renz-Weiss ticket. 

Renz and Weiss are well prepared for the responsibilities that come with UGBC leadership, bolstered by their prior experience with the institution as well as their realistic goals. They are the strongest choice for UGBC’s next president and vice president.