Renewed Vision for Leadership and Service
Union SA Leads with New Energy after AIA Conference
Union Adventist University’s Student Association came back from Washington, D.C., aflame with energy and full of ideas after participating in the annual Adventist Intercollegiate Association (AIA) conference. The conference is a platform for student leaders from Adventist campuses throughout the country to meet, discuss and work together on several issues such as student government empowerment, campus culture improvement and leadership development elevation across institutions. SA President Yann Birasa called the event “a total 10/10 experience,” of which one of the most important parts was the opportunity to meet and communicate with other student leaders who have the same interests and ideas as them. Birasa also pointed out that it was the very first time he visited the capital of the US and that as a group they were able to participate in more activities and thus strengthen their bonds inside the Union delegation. The trip served as an enlargement not only of his vision about student leadership but also of the network of people with whom he can collaborate in the future to harmonize and strengthen the relationship between campuses, thereby marking the event as one of the biggest achievements of their visit.
A major issue at the meeting was the consideration of changes in AIA's working structure so as to create clearer and shorter leadership avenues. Therefore, the delegates decided to abolish the officer positions of AIA and instead appoint one representative of each university, such as a student senator, SA president or executive vice president, to keep the AIA activities at the forefront of campus leadership and in the decision making spaces. SA Religious Vice President Umeran Waktole mentioned that very important and useful topics were discussed during the conference, such as the improvement of faith-centered activities, the establishment of smooth communication routes between student associations and university administrations, and the creation and nurturing of safe and supportive campus communities.
Waktole stressed that the privilege of meeting other students who are equally passionate about mission driven leadership only re-energized Union’s drive to provide students with opportunities to engage in service, build community and grow in faith. In his turn, the Executive Vice President Matthew Toews spoke about a tangible accomplishment that is currently benefiting the students of Union: the Union SA has, motivated by the discussions at the conference, installed a Senate discretionary fund as a pilot program for student driven campus projects to be run throughout the academic year.
Toews also pointed out that the fund will be the best method to reach students' needs and in addition, he encouraged students to bring their ideas to the forefront by assuring them that the SA is always available for making a positive impact on the campus life. Although no direct changes from AIA immediately affect the daily life of students at Union, the leaders have pointed out that the friendships made, leadership skills gained, and the strategic planning talks will really make a difference in the long run for the campus community. Moreover, it was a great opportunity for Union's SA to introspect, strengthen their cooperation, and get new ideas for engaging the student body in the areas of inclusivity, student voice, and spiritual life.
The event was a great leadership training as well as a growth accelerator for the Union as this year's SA is positioned to further their communication efforts, involve more students in activities, as well as continue to develop a culture where student government is considered as accessible, proactive, and service oriented. With new friendships, fresh energy and clear projects to work on, the student leaders of Union had a successful trip to Washington and came back with a strong commitment not only to improve the student experience but also to put in efforts to make sure that each student is recognized, helped, and empowered as a member of a growing, collaborative, and mission driven campus community.
By Job James