Community BRIEFS

Harvard South Asian Students Association Elect New Board

Approximately 60 students met Sunday night in Emerson 101 to select the next board of the Harvard Radcliffe South Asian Association (SAA).

Srishti Gupta '97 and Vikas S. Sohal '97 were named the organization's new presidents. Sharon Sudarshan '97 was elected treasurer; Kartik Muralidharan '98 academic and political chair; Haider A. Shirzi '98 secretary; and Soshila A. Jacob '96 social and cultural chair. Vipin Goyal '98 will serve as publicity chair, and Mallar Bhattacharya as liaison. Vivek H. Maru '97 will lead the inter-ethnic committee.

Sohal said he is excited by the future prospects and increased membership of the organization. "Almost everyone came out [of the elections] feeling that past programs were successful, desiring more cultural events in the fall. There is an increased awareness of issues on campus now that we have grown," Sohal said.

Sohal also cited an increased awareness and interest in South Asian culture at Harvard. "Ghungroo [a South Asian cultural festival sponsored by FAA] sold out both nights, and really showed how into South Asian culture the campus is. I hope we can do something like that in the fall."

About 25 candidates ran for the eight positions on the board. Presidential candidates each gave a five minute speech; all others spoke for two minutes. Each candidate then answered three or four questions from the audience.

Anurima Bhargava '96, one of last year's co-presidents, said she was pleased with the results of the election. "I think the election was really close, especially the presential. I think we have a great, young board for next year."