He’s on the Executive Board of BSG, a columnist for The Bucknellian and does improv – without a doubt, Ben Rees is one senior who is not slowing down. The enthusiastic and outgoing Ben is quite involved on campus from managing student organization budgets and voicing his opinion in his column Rees’ Pieces. It is safe to say Ben is a face that lots of students recognize around campus. It’s time to officially meet Ben and find out why he got so involved in the first place, his stance on the twerking trend and why him and Kanye would be BFFs. Read on!
1) How long have you been involved in student government here at Bucknell? What is your current position and what responsibilities come with it?
I got involved with BSG after the first semester of my junior year. I am currently the Vice President of Finance and responsible for appropriating student activity fee funds to student organizations. Essentially, if clubs need money to host dinners, movies, or other events they come to the Appropriations Committee and me with their requests.
2) What is the most difficult part about managing student organizations’ money and funding?
It’s hard to keep on top of all of the requests. As you can probably imagine, there are a lot of very successful student organizations here that all host multiple events. A lot of funding requests come through my email and I have to make sure they all get the same attention and objective treatment.
3) In addition to being involved in BSG, you are also a columnist for The Bucknellian. One of your most recent pieces was “Rees’ Pieces: Twerk Tweaking,” which was hilarious by the way. Be honest – have you ever tried to twerk? If so, are you any good at it?
I’m glad someone reads those! I have definitely tried to twerk, but am I good? Good is such a relative term…
4) What is your favorite move to bust out at a party?
The one thing I can do without injuring myself is a pin drop. That’s my entire repertoire and it makes people think I’m somewhat graceful. I do that once or twice and then exit quickly.
5) Many people on campus would describe you as very enthusiastic and outgoing, which is good because you do in fact represent our student body. Through your eyes, looking at the student body as a whole what are our greatest strengths? What about weaknesses?
Our greatest strength is that we all like what we like. There are certain things on this campus that most people share a unanimous appreciation and passion for. That also plays into our largest weakness: the student body as a whole is very quick to cling to old things because trying something new can be uncomfortable.
6) I hate to be the one to ask that question, but do you know what you want to do after graduation? Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I’d like to do something financial, but if I said that I knew I wanted to be a healthcare banker or a bond portfolio manager I would be lying. I’m still piecing it all together.
In 10 years I’d like to still have hair. That’s the extent of my plans.
7) What do you think will you miss most about being a senior at Bucknell?
I’ll miss the improv troupe on campus. Improv has without a doubt been the best thing I have ever done. I’ll miss that terribly.
8) Where could a student or faculty member typically find you on a typical Friday afternoon?
I don’t have class Friday (another thing I’ll miss about this year), so most Friday afternoons I am probably at my house downtown. I try to get out of the student space on Friday–I spend enough time there Monday through Thursday to justify that.
9) What celebrity do you think you would be best friends with?
Without a doubt Kanye West. There would never, ever, ever be a dull moment. He’s a bit eccentric, but he is a really intelligent guy. I’d be willing to bet that when the cameras are off he tones the ego down a lot.