I'm running for President of Club Zamana, Columbia's largest South Asian cultural organization, known for its annual culture show Tamasha--the second largest student production on campus. And I need your support! So please get yourself on the mailing list here and tell your friends.
**Voting begins soon. Keep a lookout in your inboxes!**
Who are you?
I'm Abhi, a junior in the College. I'm majoring in classics and economics, intending to do a Ph.D./J.D. after I graduate. Anyway, I've been on Zamana for two and a half years. I was an OCM my freshman year, the Media Chair my sophomore year, and the Treasurer this past year. I've been a dedicated member and leader and I have great ideas for next year.
What kind of experience do you have?
Well, I was Treasurer this year, which is one of the most important positions on the board. In terms of finances, Club Zamana is more solid than it's ever been. No doubt the whole board should take credit for this; every one of them helped and any treasurer would have been proud to work with such a cooperative board. I know the time I put into the Club's finances were part of the success.
Though being treasurer was a rewarding job, I'm most fond of my time as Media Chair. I designed the Tamasha Inc. logo on all our shirts and shotglasses, created last year's excellent program, and made all of the fifteen second transition videos at Tamasha.
- Here's Srilekha talking about 'Taal Street'
- Here's Rahul dancing in a suit
- Dhoom before it became a campus sensation
- The freshman of last year (sophomores now!)
- Raas: "It's so hard being white."
(thanks Raj for some great footage!)
I also believe--and Sanjay and Varun can vouch for this--that the experience one gets as a treasurer is extremely valuable, and makes me a strong candidate. It really does take a year to get a handle on ABC, SGA, SDA, OMA, eforms, reimbursements, grant apps, appeals. And on a club like Zamana, which has unusually complex finances, having that kind of experience means you can handle the toughest situations much more comfortably. For example, funding the semiformal. Or getting the whopping $10k necessary to run Tamasha while a massive recession drains funding resources.
What's your goal for the club in a sentence?
Actually, I just need one word. Outreach. We need to make sure that each of our events reaches as many general body members as possible and serves Zamana's mission of promoting South Asian culture on campus.
What are your specific goals for next year?
First, we're going to do this film screening in Roone, which is long overdue. There will be a Bollywood movie, an independent movie, refreshments, and maybe a small talk on what Bollywood is about. It will be a great time to learn more about Bollywood and South Asian film, sing along to your favorite songs, and hang out with your friends before heading to Butler or going out. This is not to privilege Indian film over other South Asian industries. To the contrary, I hope this event will spark interest in all types of film in South Asia.
Next, we desperately need new party policies. Tired of paying to hang out with your friends at Z parties? I will strive to either cut the cover altogether or at least get good drink specials and DJs to make your cash worthwhile. Parties aren't everything at Z, but if they're important to you, they're important to us.
Semiformal is priced too highly. We need a better revenue model on this event. We'll need to start much earlier than we did even last year, pursue businesses aggressively, effectively use connections, and ensure high quality food. Also--my fellow vegetarians, I eat what you eat.
Thirdly, I will set up a process for monetary cosponsorships to other campus organizations doing South Asian events. In the past, Z has made it policy to refuse monetary cosponsorships, but I believe monetary collaboration can be a good use for our allocation/revenue. This year, I pushed for cosponsoring Awaaz and the Boishakhi mela.
Fourth--and this is related to number three--we will work more strongly and more frequently with organizations doing important South Asian events. In the past, we've worked with the Hindu Students Organization on Be the Change, and, after speaking casually with members of HSO, I want to make our cooperation more organized, involve members more thoroughly, and involve more of our general body. Every year we ask how we can make service more than a day-long activity, and I want to address those lingering questions. I also want to forge similar relationships with other South Asian organizations, including Awaaz, which branched off of Zamana this year.
Fifth, Tamasha. This event is excellent as is, and our general body deserves the assurance that our new ambitions will never detract from the popular culture show. Here's to TAMASHA 2010.
