ASB results in for 2012-2013 school year

Both motivated and experienced, the new ASB officers are ready to tackle the 2012-2013 school year. Next year’s ASB members include junior Sasan Saadat, who ran unopposed for president, junior David Zarrin as vice president, junior Benedict Chiu as treasurer and sophomore Nikhil Goel as secretary.

The new officers aim to connect the student body to the administration in order for students to have a stronger influence on school decisions.

“I really want to strengthen the bridge between students and administration, and I can only do that if students start voicing their opinions on how this school can be improved,” Chiu said.

Saadat expressed similar views to Chiu.

“I hope to bring the voice of students to the forefront of decision making on campus,” Saadat said. “I think we have an incredibly bright student body and they deserve to take an integral role in how the school operates.”

Next year, however, will be the first year that the ASB will have to go without the guidance of assistant principal Karen Hyde, who has been in charge of the ASB since the 1970s.

“We will never really be able to go on as usual, [without] someone who just knows exactly what to do at every bump in the road,” Saadat said. “I’ll just have to take everything Ms. Hyde has taught us and everything we’ve worked at and try and carry that forward and adapt it when necessary.”

As this year’s ASB clubs commissioner, Saadat ran for president after being inspired by an inter-school leadership conference, where he became acquainted with the student councils of local high schools.

“Hearing new ideas [at the conference] and gaining a better clarity of my own visions for the school made me eager to run for the position,” Saadat said.

Chiu, the current junior class president, was motivated to run for treasurer for a different reason. 

“I wanted a different experience in leadership and wanted to see how I could help the ASB and the school instead of just the junior class,” he said.

Like Chiu, Goel felt that ASB was the “way to go” for him in terms of wanting to take a leadership role within the school. As previous freshman class president and current sophomore class vice president, Goel has much experience in the leadership field.

Saadat, on the other hand, hopes to tackle more specific  issues on campus.

“[Some] goals I have are encouraging more diversity days and discrimination awareness,” Saadat said.

According to Goel, collaboration skills and dedication are a must for any ASB officer.

“Honestly, the position isn't as crucial as the effort and work you put into it because ASB is a team of collaborators,” Goel said. “ASB is a team effort, which means everyone has to pull their weight.”