On the 3rd of October at the first assembly of the Student Union (SU) of Central European University, the SU members chose the new president who will represent and protect the rights of CEU students in the 2012/2013 academic year. As CEU Weekly has been closely cooperating with SU since the day of our foundation, we could not miss the opportunity to get to know charming Emily Šaras better and introduce her to our readers. So, meet Ms. President of Student Union 2012/2013, Emily Šaras!
Emily was born in the United States, in the small town of Hopedale, Massachusetts near Boston. She got her BA in Anthropology and Music at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and soon after started to conquer the European continent: Emily lived for two years in Lithuania, first as a Fulbright Fellow in Ethnomusicology and Classical vocal performance, and later as a US Embassy Grantee for human rights projects. After a small break for mountain hiking with her family back in the US, she came to CEU, where she is now doing her MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology.
Maryna Shevtsova (CEU Weekly): Congratulations again, Emily, and thank you for finding the time for us in your busy schedule. Tell us, please, how did you decide to join the SU? Was it difficult to win the President elections?
Emily Šaras: Thank you, Maryna. Well, I was eager to join SU because I enjoy being involved in student activities and university life. I know it may seem to some people that Human Rights, Social Anthropology and Student Policy are different subjects, but for me they are all very connected – working closely with groups of people to motivate them while representing their ideas and interests. As for the elections, we had three candidates for the position of President, and each of us gave a speech before the SU Assembly. I promised the Assembly that if I am elected, I will use my skills, my background and my “loud voice” as a trained opera singer (laughing) to promote the interests and initiatives of CEU students. And I won their votes!
MS: And how does feel now?
ES: Exciting! I’m thrilled for this opportunity. But the work is only just beginning. So far, we have only had one Assembly meeting,
and I realize very well that we have a lot of work ahead of us to be done. I am looking forward to getting down to business – I have a really fantastic team of SU Board members, and the SU Assembly has great energy. It’s going to be a great year!.
MS: What are the priorities now?
ES: Our first big issue is approving this year’s budget. It might sound tedious, but there are a lot of issues to be solved regarding the allocation of funding for supporting different student activities, for receiving funding applications, and for dealing with the regulations and taxes involved in the budget as well. It’s a long process, but our SU Treasurer Sergey Jakimov already has much of it under control.
MS: What are your other big projects at the moment?
ES: We have already been approached with some separate projects dealing with constitutional amendments. One that I am particularly interested in involves ensuring inclusion in student activities and equality in representation in SU for students in the Roma Access Program. Also, right now it’s important for me to learn as much as I can about SU operations! Thankfully, I’ve been given lots of help and support from more experienced members of SU who have served on the board last year.
MS: Provocative question for the President: What do you think about the upcoming US elections?
ES: It’s a dangerous topic! (laughing) Oh, I really hope that Obama will win this election. I was raised in a conservative family, and today I have bipartisan views in many ways and try to approach politics from an independent viewpoint. I am currently registered as a Libertarian, but I believe my political views are still evolving. I am really lucky to have been able to spend so much time abroad, because in a way, it has helped me to understand how US foreign policy is viewed by – and impacts – nations and cultures around the world. Sure, I believe the Obama Administration has many flaws in approach. But at the moment, human rights initiatives are a priority for me, and I think a presidential commitment from President Obama to supporting equal rights for all sexual orientations and gender identities, in the US and on a global level, is extremely important.
MS: What would you wish to the readers of CEU weekly?
ES: I wish all you guys a great fall term at CEU. Enjoy your studies and make time for fun, too!
MS: Thank you, Emily, and we wish you luck with your new position!
An interview by
Maryna Shevtsova
Photo: Dániel Végel
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