New UA leader Bilenker aims to bolster attendance, 'fun'

Noah Bilenker's luck couldn't have gotten much worse. In the past few weeks he got a speeding ticket, had problems with his car and stepped on a nail. But the streak ended April 7 when the College sophomore was elected chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly. Bilenker -- a UA member since his freshman year -- has risen quickly to the top of the organization. During his first two terms on the UA, he was part of the facilities committee, serving as its chairperson last term and focusing its efforts toward eliminating the student fee for Nautilus room use. Bilenker said the UA is his "number one priority," adding that he wants members to enjoy the projects they're working on. He said he hopes that his encouragement will prevent the low attendance that has plagued UA meetings in the past. "If the UA is something fun to participate in, then people will want to come to meetings," he said. As chairperson, Bilenker said he wants to invite administrators and other student leaders to attend UA meetings. He also wants to increase the visibility of the body so students "will not have to ask what [the UA] does." And he said he wants steering committee members to increase their role in the body's committee structure by acting as ex-officio members of the five committees. Bilenker, a History and Political Science major, said his interest in student government stems from the aftermath of a car accident he was in. The other parties in the crash treated him unfairly because of his youth, he said. "I saw the injustice," he said. "And there are a lot of things I'd like to fix." Bilenker is also involved in other aspects of University life. He is secretary of the InterFraternity Council and has held other leadership positions in his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. His other commitments have included involvement with Hillel and the crew team, but Bilenker maintains that he "likes to have a good time." He noted that his extracurricular involvement began at Manalapon High School in New Jersey where he was a member of the Honor Society, the golf team and the French Club. He also served out a brief acting career as "Priest No. 9" and "Deacon No. 2" in a high school production of The King and I. Bilenker added that his parents greatly influenced his decisions. "I really idealized my father," he said. "He never takes any garbage from anyone. I want to help people by not taking anyone's garbage." Bilenker said former UA chairperson and College junior Tal Golomb also helped to shape his leadership philosophy. At Bilenker's second UA meeting during his freshman year, he witnessed members politicking over the International Affairs Association audit. "Tal was the one who said politicking should not be in the UA," Bilenker said. "Tal just seems to always know what's up. He always has the best possible plan of action, and I hope I can do as good a job as he did." Many of Bilenker's closest relations said they have faith in his leadership abilities. "He is very passionate about things," said College and Wharton sophomore Andrew Ross, a UA member and Bilenker's roommate in the Phi Psi fraternity. "He likes to take things to the highest level possible," Ross added. And IFC President and College and Engineering junior Matt Baker said "Noah is an exemplary member of both the Greek system and the University community." Baker added that he was "overwhelmingly confident that the new UA, under [Bilenker's] leadership, will not only exceed all expectations, but comparatively dwarf the efforts of all past Undergraduate Assemblies."