Officers

The 2012-2013 officers of the club.

President
Name: Ryan Y.
Nickname: Powerdolphin
Age: 22
Birthday: June 26th, 1990
Hometown: Milton, PA...ish.
Year: Senior
Major: Accounting
Previous positions: Vice President 2010-2012, Treasurer 2009-2010, Freshman Representative 2008-2009
Quotes: "A good man cannot hide his beautiful body by wearing lots of clothes!"
Favorite Anime: Code Geass, Steins;Gate, Ouran High School Host Club
About: My high school had about 500 people, so there wasn't really a big fanbase for anime. Still, I watched a few series' now and then, and was a big fan of videogames throughout the whole thing. I don’t know how I became President, I blame Fred.

Vice President
Name: Nate
Age: 21
Birthday: August 26th, 1991
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Year: Senior
Major: Biology
Previous positions: Gaming Committee 2010-2012
Favorite Anime: Cowboy Bebop, Akira, Azumanga Daioh, Steins;Gate, Bartender
About: I started watching anime because Sailor Moon was the only thing on at 6 a.m. on Saturdays that wasn’t infomercials. 8 year old me was up at that time to that’s what I watched.

Secretary
Name: Matt
Age: 19
Birthday: October 12th, 1992
Hometown: Several, most recent: New Freedom, PA
Year: Freshman
Major: Computer Science
Previous positions: Freshman Representative 2011-2012
Favorite Anime: One Piece, High School of the Dead, Basquash, Lupin III, Detective Conan, Baccano, Familiar of Zero, Dead Leaves, Beck, ZOIDS, Bobobo-bo Bo-Bobo, Eyeshield 21
About: Um, not much to say about me, really. My parents were in the Air Force, so a lot of moving happened, basically a new place every three years until I was 15, and they had both since retired. One of the few constants was Toonami, except in Germany, which had dubbed Digimon so all was good. Eventually I branched out into other series, and got more involved with the fandom as a whole, eventually culminating in some cons. So yeah… that’s all.

Treasurer
Name: Benjamin
Nickname: Spike
Age: 20
Birthday: December 8th, 1991
Hometown: Nazareth, PA
Year: Junior
Major: Accounting
Previous positions: Secretary Fall 2011-2012, Freshman Representative 2010-2011
Favorite Anime: Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Zeta Gundam
Favorite Manga: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
About: Been watching Anime since I was a kid with Toonami and have been watching ever since. I am also an avid gamer (mostly PC at the moment).

Former Officers
Officer History

Advisors

Name: Jeff E. Long
Age: Doesn't really matter because once you turn 40 every other birthday is just that, a birthday
Birthday: January 6, a Capricorn; born in the year of the Dragon by the Japanese reckoning of the Chinese lunar calendar (On January 1, 1873 the Japanese changed over to the Gregorian calendar as another step toward "modernization"), but by the traditional lunar calendar still consulted in China and Korea I was more likely born in the year of the Rabbit
Hometown: Born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma the home of the Cherokee Nation (and I am 1/8th Cherokee), but I grew up just across the border in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and thus became a Razorback fan for life.
Dept in the College: Associate Professor in the Department of History teaching East Asian history
Favorite Anime: Introduced to anime when one of my Japanese language teachers while studying in Tokyo brought Kaze no Tani no Naushika into class for us to study to improve our Japanese and I guess that I still haven't gotten over the magic that Miyazaki infuses into his anime nor the environmentalist message that he often includes in his works. In addition, the area where I lived while in the suburbs of Tokyo was the background for his 1988 film Tonari no Totoro so there is a connection back to my personal experiences living in Japan as well.
About: Became interested in Japan after taking some courses on East Asia as an undergrad and spent 1985-1986 as an exchange student at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. I loved the experience so much that I returned in 1987 for another two years of language study in Tokyo and worked for a Japanese corporation, Miyaji Gakki, for a year before returning to start my graduate studies in 1990. Twenty years later, little did I know that a career and a love for East Asian history and culture in general would ensue. While I might not always be able to attend the meetings regularly, I do want to wish the club all the best and will do what I can to help make it a success. Gambatte ne!

Name: Douglas Karsner
Specialization: United States business and economic history, urban, diplomatic, Japanese-American Relations.
Age: Old enough to have watched Astro Boy, Gigantor, and Speed Racer when they were first shown on American TV. Still enjoy these "originals".
Hometown: Grew up in the suburbs just west of Philly.
Favorite Anime: Among more recent anime, Cowboy Bebop is #1 for many reasons. Like Long Sensei, I am amazed at Miyazaki's works.
About: Taught at Temple University Japan in Tokyo from 1993 to 1996 before coming to BU. Did a return engagement last summer and hope to do so again in the future.
Other Japan Interests: Kaiju eiga especially Gojira and Gameraj. Music - my current favorite Japanese band is "The Privates". Sumo - watch every basho on NHIC satellite TV. Vending machines - in all their wonderful vavieties.