The Communications Board elected Jamal Madni, a graduate student in electrical engineering, as its chairman for the year on Monday night.
During its previous meeting, the Board deadlocked between Madni and Katya Balan, a second-year global studies student, but this week Madni prevailed 7-5.
“I have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for this position,” he said during the meeting. “It’s very exciting.”
Arvli Ward, director of Student Media, said he believes Madni’s skills are well-suited to the role of board chairman.
“It takes a strong allegiance to the First Amendment rights of students but also some business acumen because we are a self-supporting entity,” Ward said.
“(Madni) will be great … he’s logical, he’s methodological. He’s perfectly suited.”
Madni outlined several goals for his chairmanship, including working to establish an engineering news magazine geared toward students in non-technical fields.
He also said he hopes to increase the visibility of the board by working with other campus entities such as the Graduate Students Association.
Madni is a member of GSA and said he believes his “personal ties” will help foster partnerships between the two organizations.
Last year, Madni served as a graduate student representative on the board, during which time he helped establish the news magazine editor of the year award.
Compiled by Julia Erlandson, Bruin senior staff.