New ABC reps promise 24/7 communication

Next year’s ABC board wants to keep it simple.

In their brief speeches on Monday night, representative candidates for Activities Board at Columbia promised to simplify the bureaucratic process for groups to gain recognition and funding.

“ABC is a bureaucracy and I don’t like that idea,” said Kevin Zhai, CC ’12, who will form part of the ABC board for a second year, adding that he plans to help liberalize spending guidelines and improve representative/group interactions.

Thirteen representatives were elected to ABC—which represents over 150 student groups—following executive board elections on March 30.

Rui Yu, CC ’14 and a new ABC representative, said he understands the tiring and complicated process for groups to receive funding, since he helped solicit funds for a group this year.

“I know how crazy some of the paperwork can get,” Yu said, adding that he plans to implement electronic forms that are simpler to fill out.

Ryan Cho, CC ’13, who will also return as an ABC representative, said he plans to help student groups contact advisors and work through financial problems.

Elizabeth Angeles, CC ’13 and a new ABC board member, also promised to involve herself with groups to get to know them and to help them get to know other groups since there is little cooperation among them.

“I will be going out of my way to get involved with the groups I represent,” Angeles said. “I think it’s important for these groups to know about the initiatives of other groups.”

Mirzya Syed, BC ’12 and president of the Organization of Pakistani Students, agreed that she wants her representative to interact more with her group.

“There should come a point when student groups don’t see ABC as a bureaucracy, but as a resource,” Syed said.

She added, however, that all the talk comes down to ABC’s primary purpose—funding.

“There were significant improvements this year, but more work can be done,” Syed said.

Outgoing ABC president Beezly Kiernan, CC ’11, spoke at the end of the meeting about what the board accomplished in the past year.

He was followed by John O’Shea, CC ’13, and Daniel Brown, CC ’13, ABC’s recently elected vice president and president, respectively, who quickly talked about their plans for next year—using the new e-forms and increasing funding through alumni donations.

“Our primary purpose is to serve you guys,” Brown said.

Felicia Bishop, CC ’12 and president of the Black Students Organization said she looks forward to seeing the new representative board keeping those promises of open communication.

“Accessibility is very important to me,” Bishop said, referencing the Blackberrys and iPhones many candidates mentioned they were attached to. “I’d like to see those put to good use.”

karla.jimenez@columbiaspectator.com