Campus Y leaders look ahead

Days after making history with their election as co-presidents of the Campus Y, UNC students Marjorie Betubiza and Elizabeth McCain are already looking ahead to the next accomplishment.

The pair became the first-ever Campus Y co-presidents that are both female with their victories out of a seven-candidate field Tuesday. The organization’s constitution and by-laws required a male and a female to be co-president until last year.

Betubiza and McCain said they hope their service will be as memorable as their election.

They will lead one of the largest student organizations on campus, a center for service and activism that is celebrating its 150th year at UNC.

The first responsibility of the new co-presidents is to develop their executive board and decide how much to change it from its current composition.

Among Betubiza’s platform points are a desire to increase transparency of the executive board and to make it easier for all Campus Y members to be involved in events.

McCain also wants to give Campus Y members the opportunity to set up new projects.

“The great thing about the Y is that it’s composed of passionate individuals,” she said.

“My biggest piece of advice would be to form as diverse of an executive board as possible,” current co-president Jimmy Waters said.

In addition to finding an executive board they can work with, McCain and Betubiza will have to learn to work together after campaigning separately for the position.

“Both of its leaders need to show that they represent a united stance,” current co-president Erin Marubashi said.

Having already spent time working together through the Campus Y is a plus for the co-president-elects.

Betubiza spent the last two years as co-chairwoman of the Advocates Human Rights committee, while McCain served as minister of information for the Campus Y’s executive board for the last year. The year before, McCain was the first-year member-at-large.

“I’ve known Elizabeth for two years now. I think we’re on the same page,” Betubiza said.

Waters and Marubashi will serve as advisers to McCain and Betubiza as they set up their executive board before focusing on the goals in their campaign platforms. Waters and Marubashi also had advisers when they first started their term as co-presidents.

“Working with the current co-presidents and working as a team of four, we just dove right in,” Marubashi said.

McCain and Betubiza will fully take the reigns following Spring Break, and the current co-presidents are confident in the new pair.

“My best advice is to know that anything is possible and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Marubashi said.



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.