As with many of our interviewees, this week’s Campus Underdog is well-known and has held multiple leadership positions on campus; however, he differs in that he most definitely has more style than you and can pull off gray H&M cloth sneakers better than even the biggest hipsters you know. His name is Scott Fu.
Fu also differs in his background—he was born in Chengdu, China, grew up in Beijing, and eventually moved back to Chengdu. After middle school, Fu came to the United States and settled down in Michigan, where he attended an all-boys Catholic high school as an exchange student. When asked about his experience there, all he had to say was, “High school was pretty cool. It was all boys, so there wasn’t too much drama, which was a good thing.”
He was drawn to the University solely because of its academic curriculum and rigor, and went on to major in financial economics. On campus, Fu has been involved in Sigma Phi Epsilon, the 2017 Class Council, and the Students’ Association Senate. He described that each of these involvements has impacted him very differently in his time as the University.
Fu reports that his most rewarding campus involvement has been in the 2017 Class Council, for which he ran in the spring of his freshmen year, and has served on for the past three years. He personally enjoys the process of planning events and activities for the members of his class and seeing them through to the end.
Fu’s most memorable experience at the University, however, was while he served as a Senator-At-Large in the Students’ Association Senate.
“One Senate meeting lasted until four or five am because we were electing a new speaker of the Senate,” he said.
He remembers this so well because of the group picture taken at the end, although he admits, “It was a miserable meeting.”
(Funny enough, this was the meeting in which the writers of this column were elected as SA leaders).
Not all of Fu’s commentary regarding his time as a senator was positive, but it is increasingly relevant in light of the recent drama surrounding the SA elections and as he leaves this university.
“I was in Senate before it was cool, and then it wasn’t cool anymore,” he said.
He notes that there was just too much drama for him, which led him to resign in 2015.
His honesty was refreshing, and we believe speaks to a larger point—one can make an impact in a circle or within an organization without leading it, and without even ultimately staying in it. Both writers of this column served as senators alongside Fu, and can confidently say that he made a marked difference, provided perspective no other senator could provide, and caused many branches of the organization to reassess their practices.
Consistent with his other remarks, the piece of advice Fu would give to any incoming student is the following: “Stay out of drama, but reach out and make friends, because Rochester is an overworked place, and you need friends to get you through.”
Fu is one of the most genuine people you could encounter at the University of Rochester, and we suggest that you meet him before it’s too late.
