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BITS elects 2011 - 2012 executive board early

By Gloria Johnston

On April 5, 2011

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The student organization Business and Information Technology Society (BITS) took a new route in electing their executive board for the 2011-2012 school year by electing the board members earlier than usual this year.

"We used to have the elections at the very end of the school year in April," said BITS' current president Steve Jain, a senior finance major, who is graduating in May. "The reason we chose to do it differently this year was so the new board members could shadow the previous ones, and I think it's going pretty well so far."

Jain said the reasoning behind moving the election up to the middle of the semester stemmed from his and other board members' experiences.

"I just remember when I was just made president two years ago. The old team left and we all went home for the summer. I was elected president, but I sort of forgot about it a little over the summer," Jain said jokingly. "This way, they can see what the job entails." BITS currently has around 25-30 active members and an email list three times that amount, Jain said.

The election was held on March 10 in 1411 Van Munching Hall.

"We're very open. We don't restrict any of our meetings. Anyone could have voted in the election," Jain said.

According to its website, BITS "is an undergraduate student organization that seeks to enhance the student experience by developing effective business leaders who can have an immediate impact in the technology enabled business firm."

The organization puts on events throughout the school year to help current students connect with alumni and employers. Jain said they've managed to put on an event every other week or so.

"BITS is all about anticipating what students need and giving them what they need to do it," Jain said. "We really try to help students professionally as much as possible."

The following executive board members were elected:

Abeyu Mengistu, junior and BITS' current vice president as the new president,

Nico Guetatchew, junior, as vice president,

Raghav Ahuja, sophomore, as vice president of finance,

Thilanka Perera as the Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) representative,

Ehson Kashfipour, freshman, as vice president of marketing,

Steven Gebremariam as vice president of technology,

and Tobi Adewale as vice president of events.