The Roundup recently caught up with Associated Students Organization Senator Omri Gabay to talk about his experience this semester.
Roundup: What do you represent as a senator?
Omri Gabay: I represent the computer science and information technology department. I work with the department chair, David Shamus, and I also work with the department adviser, Sue Crim, who is my teacher. I take a computer science course with her.
RU: How long have you been on the senate?
OG: Since about beginning or middle of October. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it. I thought I’d be too busy in the semester to participate as a Senator, so I decided just to spectate and observe a few meetings, but after a while I was persuaded by other senators to actually join them, and I am so glad that I did.
RU: As a senator, what responsibilities are you in charge of?
OG: There are certain things that are expected of us and that are required of us. For example, we are required to meet with our department chairs and attend weekly meetings in the great hall, but now that our new library is finished, we are going to meet there in the new ASO room. We are encouraged to make announcements and get students involved in things that are going on on campus. There is actually an “hour quota” that we have to fulfill, and to do that we have to go to events, help set up, do volunteering. All these things are responsibilities that are expected of us.
RU: What made you want to become a student senator?
OG: I’ve always really appreciated my education. I’m a freshman, and as someone who appreciates his education, now that I’m paying for it, I might as well make every penny count, right? It’s not just the fact that you get transcript recognition, but it’s also the fact that I really do like the interaction with other students and forming social networks, and I also think this is a good leadership role to be involved in. I’ve seen other people be leaders, and I just thought that now is my time to step up and make a difference in the world around me in every aspect that I can.
RU: Before you came to Pierce, were you at all interested in student politics?
OG: I wasn’t involved in student government are anything like it at my high school, but I find politics to be something pretty interesting, and I find it interesting that student government allows students to be involved in actual politics. People may not realize this, but Pierce and practically everything we do here, is directly applicable to the world outside of here, and that’s one of the most important things that you can learn as a student.
RU: For you personally, how has being a senator been so far?
OG: Not very hard. I like the people that I work with, I don’t mind attending the meetings, it’s just time consuming.
RU: Personal questions. What’s your major?
OG: I’m a computer science major.
RU: Of all majors, why this one?
OG: For me, I thought about, “What is it that I could possibly do that would be of interest to me?” We are all trying to find our niche and feel out what we want to do, even you! Do you feel like you want to do journalism?
RU: As of right now it looks like an option.
OG: Same with me! I’ve always been involved with computers. As far as I can recall at even three years young, I recall sitting at my computer playing video games. I’ve always had an attraction for technology. I’ve always found it fascinating, even just to play with gadgets and stuff, so I figured what the heck, why not computer science.
RU: What would we most likely see you doing in your spare time?
OG: Playing guitar. Music is a huge passion of mine. I’m not a music major, but I love making music.
RU: So why aren’t you a music major then?
OG: Because I don’t feel that that’s an industry that I can break out into so easily. My main concern when I came to college was that I wanted to do something that would ultimately have job security because it’s one thing to do something you like, but for example I love music, but I know that there are so many jobs out there having to do with computer science that have job security, which is why I’m going with it.
RU: You play the guitar, which is quite a talent. Are there any talents that you wish you had on top of that?
OG: I wish I could sing. In general I wish I was a virtuoso so that I could just do anything well really. I wish I was better at guitar but I never feel that I’m getting good enough that I want to be.
RU: Where did you go to high school?
OG: El Camino Real.
RU: Did you run for any politics there?
OG: No, but I was involved in a youth group in high school that encouraged me to be more involved as a leader when I got into college, which is part of the reason I am so involved now.
RU: Your college plans after Pierce are…?
OG: MIT would be my dream school. Although I might not get in, of course I will still apply. Along with schools like Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley and probably UCLA. Schools that are pretty up there as well as schools that are more within my reach.
RU: After attending one of those major universities, what would your dream job be?
OG: Every computer scientists dream is to work for a company like IBM, Google, any one of those huge tech conglomerates. For me I just want to land somewhere where I will like the people I work with, like the job, and have a comfortable environment really. Not necessarily with one of those huge companies. Ideally something with robotics.
RU: Final question. Why would someone want to be a senator at Pierce?
OG: Other than the obvious benefits of getting transcript recognition, you get leadership experience. You get to be in charge of things that get to happen. It allows the students to make things that we though up into realities here on campus such as planning events and such. With that, all the people that you get to meet and network with are all great and working with them as part of a team is a huge experience.
