CMC Class of 2029: First-Year Class President Statements
- Violet Ramanathan
- Sep 14
- 6 min read
Learn more about the First-Year Class President candidates!
As the semester ramps up and the Class of 2029 settles into college life, a familiar fleet of banners hang outside Appleby Hall. The First-Year Class President campaigns are in full swing, and six eager candidates are vying for the opportunity to represent the newest cohort of CMC students, promising events, food, community, and memories.
The CMC First-Year Class President (FYCP) sits on the Executive Board of ASCMC and serves as a representative of the Class of 2029. The FYCP manages a budget of $3,000, which they can use to plan events and foster community within their class and across CMC's student body.
Candidates were required to collect 50 signatures to be eligible to run. They will each give a speech at the ASCMC Senate meeting on Monday, September 15th at 8:00 pm in Pickford Auditorium. Voting opens at midnight that evening and will remain open for 20 hours, until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, September 16th.
Read below to learn more about each of the candidates and their plans to serve the Class of 2029 in the upcoming year!
FYCP Candidates (alphabetical order by last name)
Suhas Beeravelli
Varnika Bhargava
Ludovico (Ludo) Cordara
Weitao Ke
Zoey Marzo
David Yusten Jr.
Varnika Bhargava
Hey everyone!
I think a lot of us walk into college with the mindset that it's going to be full of fun side-quests and adventures, that everyday is going to be like a movie. But then we come to CMC and have 70 pages of reading, 20 lines of python and 5 applications to do. My goal is to provide opportunities for college to still be like a movie, giving you experiences "for the plot" so you can walk out of CMC with a stacked resume and crazy lore :)
Here are just some of my ideas:
Stoplight party (wear green if you're taken, red if you're single)
5c freshman "frat" party
Line dancing
Silent Disco
Make your own mocktail night
Movie marathons and reality TV show watch parties
Karaoke nights
I also want to build community beyond just events through:
A ponding committee so birthdays can become a class tradition
Free snacks/drinks between classes
Dorm Tours Tuesdays
Speed dating to get to know each other
Open cabinet meetings at late night snack so you can share your ideas and concerns
I know that everyone has a lot on their plate, so I want to be a president who is transparent, receptive to your ideas, but also trustworthy so you can come to whichever events you are free for and trust that you will have a great time! Overall, I just want to serve you and make this the best year possible so vote Varnika B for freshman year to be a movie!
Ludovico Cordara
I’m running for Freshman Class President because I believe leadership starts with listening and ends with action. My campaign rests on four values: community, diversity of thought, efficiency, and transparency.
First, community means putting people first. I want every student to feel represented, connected, and included. With so many passions and perspectives at CMC, we deserve a leader who can bring us together, not divide us.
Second, diversity of thought is more than a phrase—it’s who I am. I bring the perspective of an Italian-American who has lived abroad and seen how different ideas strengthen a community. I will work to ensure every student feels comfortable voicing their views.
Third, efficiency means keeping things simple and effective. I won’t make empty promises or chase impossible goals. Instead, I’ll focus on small, tangible wins—like improving campus life with simple, practical changes that matter day to day.
Finally, transparency means being accessible and accountable. Every Friday from 11:30 to 12:30, I’ll be at Collins, ready to hear your ideas, suggestions, or even just have a conversation. You’ll always know where to find me, and you’ll always have a voice.
Together, these values create a clear vision: a class united by community, strengthened by diverse perspectives, built on efficiency, and guided by transparency. I’m not running to stand in front of you—I’m running to stand with you.
Vote for Ludo: One vote, countless wins.
Weitao Ke
Good morning, afternoon, and evening, my lovely people! I’m Weitao, the friendly, energetic, chalant FOB guy from China who greets you every time you see me. I’m running for FYCP because I can actually bring this class together—not just as a slogan, but as action.
First, once elected, I’ll appoint every one of my opponents to my cabinet and split my $700 stipend evenly with them. Why? Because I know and respect them. They’re amazing people with great ideas, and they reflect the diversity of our grade (though yes—we could use more female cabinet members!). I don’t want division; I want connection. If you’re the type who goes to dining halls and orders “a little bit of everything,” you gotta rank Weitao #1 on your ballot, nah?
Second, I already know many of you—not just names, but your halls, teams, classes, interests, and backgrounds. From athletes to artists, scientists to lawyers, north quad to south quad, internationals to locals—I’ve listened to and laughed with you. Connecting with diverse people is my biggest joy, something I’ve done across 40 countries (Antarctica, I’m coming for you next). I’ll be a president who actually loves the job.
As your FOB president—Funniest On Ballot, Freshest On Board, or Free Office Boba—you’ll get humor, energy, and inclusiveness. Even if you don’t rank me #1, I’ll always be here to hear you out—whether it’s ranting about classes, policies, dining hall food, or the meaning of life.
Let’s make this class not just connected, but unforgettable. Vote Weitao #1!
Zoey Marzo
Hi everyone! My name is Zoey Marzo, and I’m running to be your Freshman Class President.
A little about me: I’m from Whitefish, Montana, where I spent my time captaining my tennis team, serving as student body president, and starting a student outreach group focused on making sure everyone felt like they belonged. I also volunteer with my therapy dog, Winnie, and I love baking cakes for my friends, music, and I am so excited for this upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.
At CMC, my goal is simple: to help our class feel connected and to make sure your ideas shape our year. I don’t believe one person should decide what we want as a class. That’s why I plan to keep things organized with quick surveys, open meetings, and conversations so our events and initiatives reflect you. Already, I’ve heard excitement for ideas like a “Hometown Night” party, Saturday s’mores hangouts, Taco Bell catering, class merch, and fruit at midnight snack!
If elected, here are my first priorities:
Take over our cmc2029 Instagram to keep everyone in the loop about events and opportunities. Also, create content to build community, like fit check Friday and student spotlights
Create a grade-wide GroupMe so no one misses out, and we have one clear place for sharing information
Follow through on events you want, from fun socials to study spaces to new traditions.
You can count on me to stay organized, listen, and actually get things done. Freshman year is our foundation — let’s make it one where everyone feels included, supported, and proud to be part of the Class of 2029.
David Yusten Jr.
Class of 2029, I want to know you! I believe that what makes CMC different from other schools is our tight-knit community – I want to take that out of proportion. College needs to be more than a set of classes, preprofessional network-maxxing, and building up a resume for the future. The people we meet, the experiences that we share, and the connections that we make are absolutely vital if we want to succeed in the other aspects of school.
As FYCP, I want to create spaces for this to happen; I’d hold events like karaoke, comedy nights, “the dating game”, small cooking classes in Janie’s, as well as DJ Boiler Rooms and themed parties. The biggest idea that I have is something I call FROSHFEST: A 5C wide spirit week with daily freshman events across all campuses – uniting our grade, giving clubs and organizations spaces to engage in the 5cs, and creating a tradition that revolutionizes freshman year.
But beyond that, I want to use funding EXACTLY how our class wants me to. To accomplish this, there’d be survey links at every function to get immediate feedback for improvement. I want to set up “office hours” or fireside chats at Beckett’s Fireplace on a weekly basis where I can talk individually with any of my classmates. We could talk about policy, the food at Collins, or even just do homework in silence. Finally, I want every single meeting related to my presidency to be open-doors. The words of my classmates matter, and I want them to not only be heard but also implemented in the impact I make for my class.
All in all, I hope you choose someone who wants to serve you. I hope you choose someone who wants to know you.
Candidates who did not provide a statement will still give speeches.