Vishalli Loomba, ASUC President

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Vishalli Loomba is a Molecular Cell Biology major with an emphasis in Neurobiology and a Global Poverty minor.  You’ve probably seen her on campus campaigning, hiking, practicing yoga, or perhaps on her way to research in the lab.  As UC Berkeley’s Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) president, Vishalli Loomba is hard to miss.  She is the first Indian-American ASUC president as well as the first president to be a member of a Panhellenic sorority (Delta Delta Delta).  Get a glimpse into the life of Vishalli below.
 
Her Campus: What inspired you to run for the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC)?
Vishalli Loomba: I began working in the ASUC as the finance director for the Office of External Affairs where I learned a lot about all that the student government at Cal is capable of. The things that our student leaders were doing and the opportunities that they had to make real, tangible changes really enticed me and so I decided to run for senate. As a senator, I learned more about the unique student government at Cal and as my term came to an end I realized there was much more that I wanted to do. This inspired me to run for ASUC President and continue to be the voice of the student body, especially at such a pivotal moment in the history of public education.  
 
HC: What were some of the biggest challenges you had to overcome to become ASUC president?
VL: Running for ASUC President was a decision of large magnitude because from the day I decided to run, my life has completely changed. It was a rather large undertaking especially because it was unprecedented. I am the first Indian-American student body president in Cal’s history as well as the first president to also be a member of a Panhellenic sorority. I think the biggest challenge I had to face while running for ASUC President was changing people’s mindset and fighting the stereotype. It also was a huge change in lifestyle as I had to stop being an average college student and give up some of my customs. I was never able to have days where I wake up after 11, stay up into the late hours of the night just for fun, eat pizza at 3am, and cram for all my tests and exams. I had to give myself a more adult lifestyle and have been working on a very structured schedule ever since. Google calendar has become my best friend. 
 
HC:What are your plans as ASUC president for UCB? 
VL: This is a huge year for UC Berkeley and for public higher education across the world. As the preeminent public institution, we must set the standard for public education and I take this responsibility very seriously. For the first time in the history of California, students are paying more than the state for our education. As we enter unchartered territory in the discussion surrounding public higher education, we must remain committed to our mission of academic excellence and access. As student body president, I want to ensure that the ASUC be a vehicle for students to effectively voice our opinions and be heard at the campus level, state level, and federal level. All of my actions as president will reflect this sentiment.
 
HC: Balancing all of your extra curricular activities must be stressful. What are some ways you relax?
VL: I have found that the best way for me to relax is to take time out of every week to spend with friends and family. I also leave a little bit of time for myself to work out on most mornings which really helps me relax and relieve stress. If I am stressed before bed, I like to read a good book or magazine for 10-15 minutes that has nothing to do with any of my work or classes. 
 
HC: Where’s your favorite place to eat at UC Berkeley?
VL: Cheeseboard.*
 
HC: Who is your favorite professor on campus?
VL: David Presti. Drugs and the Brain was a class I took my first semester as a freshmen and it is still one of my favorite classes.
 
HC: What are your plans for after graduation?
VL: Ideally, I would like to take a year off and continue my research in the Hepatology (liver) department at the California Pacific Medical Center in conjunction with UCSF while applying to medical school. 
 
*The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective is located on Northside of campus at 1512 Shattuck Ave. Be sure to visit their website to find out the “Pizza of the Day”