Understanding the 2024 Election
2024 is an election year for the president of the United States. For many college students across the country, this is their first or second time voting in the presidential election. While politics can seem overwhelming or a negative conversation for many, it is important to participate in voting to ensure your voice is heard in policymakers’ decisions. This post provides information and resources to help students feel informed about their decisions in this election.

The 2024 election is on Tuesday, November 5th. The winner will serve four years as president of the United States, starting in January 2025. The president has the power to pass some laws on their own but mostly he or she must work with Congress to pass legislation.

The Republican and Democrat parties each have their own candidate chosen to represent them in this election. The Republican nominee is former president Donald Trump and the Democratic nominee is current Vice President Kamala Harris. Other parties have candidates on the ballot such as the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Green Party nominee Jill Stein. While all candidates have a chance to be represented on the ballot and get elected, the larger majority of the United States is a member of the democratic or republican party. This post will dive into information regarding Republican and Democratic nominees and how to register to vote in the upcoming election.

Additional information on the Election can be found here:

Kamala Haris
Current Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee after current President Joe Biden announced he would not run in the 2024 election. Her running mate is the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.

Below are resources to learn about Kamala Harris and understand her policies and stances on different issues she is focusing on in her campaign:

Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump is running as the Republican nominee for the third time. His running mate is Senator for Ohio, J.D. Vance.

Below are resources to learn about Donald Trump and understand his policies and stances on different issues he is focusing on in his campaign:

How to register to vote in Massachusetts?
You can register to vote in Massachusetts if you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of Massachusetts 18 years or older, not currently incarcerated because of a felony conviction. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person. The deadline to register to vote, update your registration, or change your party is 10 days before any election or town meeting. If you have a signature on file with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can register online. You can also pre-register, update your address, update your name, and change your political party designation.

Visit for more information

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Additional Resources
To increase your knowledge of the 2024 election below are some podcasts that provide user-friendly and accessible information.��

Every weekday, NPR’s best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don’t just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters. Every afternoon.

Vox audio helps you understand the world. From catching up on the most important news stories of the day to grappling with important discussions between deep thinkers to sparking curiosity about scientific mysteries, our podcasts offer an array of entry points to deeper understanding.��

FiveThirtyEight
The FiveThirtyEight team covers the latest in politics, tracking the issues and “game-changers” every week.

The post Making Change: Informed Voting appeared first on Campus Life.

Making Change in Local Politics

Stay Informed – Look out for local papers or news outlets that cover what is happening in your area. Keep yourself up-to-date on issues that are important to you. Follow up on policies that interest you. It’s not easy to be a part of the solution if you don’t know what the problems are. If you are new to the area, talk to staff and leaders on your campus who have been a part of this community longer than you have and get an idea of what is happening/has happened that can impact college students and other community members.

Vote in Local Elections –�� While they may not get the same news coverage, there are more than just presidential elections every four years. Most elected officials are chosen during midterm elections that occur between the presidential elections. While elections typically take place in the fall, information regarding candidates, open seats for different positions, and issues that may be major concerns in elections are typically available in advance. Learn more:

Attend City of Ģ������Ƶ Public Meetings – Meetings for a variety of committees are open to the public. City Council, School Committee, and the City of Ģ������Ƶ Boards and Commission meetings encourage interested individuals to attend. Virtual options and meeting minutes are available if you can not attend in person. A schedule of events, information on the current board and vacancies, and information to take further action and work with the city council on petitions for different issues. Learn more:

Volunteer with Local Organizations:

Volunteering with local organizations that support different parts of the Ģ������Ƶ community can be a great way to make a difference while building relationships and connections within your community. Organizations in Ģ������Ƶ and central Massachusetts frequently need support. Here are some organizations to look into that might spark your interest.

Ģ������Ƶ Animal Rescue League – This organization is in search of animal lovers who are interested in the hard work it can take to care for animals in need of permanent homes. Hands-on skills with animals are appreciated as well as volunteers interested in marketing and fundraising as well as interest and skills in construction and computer science. Learn more:

Boys & Girls Club – There are many ways to volunteer with the boys & Girls Club of Ģ������Ƶ. They frequently need support in special events, teaching special classes, or assisting in administrative work. If you are looking for experience with children or large groups this could be a great fit. Opportunities are available to volunteer alone or gather your friends for group efforts. Learn more:

Greater Ģ������Ƶ Community Foundation – This organization has a variety of leadership development opportunities for youth and nonprofit organization-led efforts. If you have an interest in philanthropy or community access to arts and culture this is a good organization to look more into and see if there is an opportunity that fits you. Learn more:

United Way of Central Massachusetts – The United way is a unique organization as it has many different focuses and opportunities for volunteers who are interested in issues such as housing and food insecurity, education opportunities, and access to health and emergency support. Specifically for college students the United Way works with the Higher Education Consortium to connect a community of college students, staff, and partners to use create educational opportunities to find unique ways to foster equity, racial justice, and professional development. Learn more:

Girls Inc. Ģ������Ƶ – Girls Inc. is frequently looking for female role models to become mentors and foster their mission of growing strong and smart women. Volunteer opportunities include hands-on work with one-day events, fundraising, or crafted experiences highlighting an individual’s talent or skill. Internship opportunities are also available for college students interested in using their skills to have a unique experience that takes into account degree requirements and program needs.��Learn more:

Red Cross of Massachusetts – Most well known for their blood donation efforts, the red cross works with volunteers interested in health and job training, emergency relief, and a variety of other community needs. CNA, CPR, and other first aid training opportunities are available for those interested in the health field, to get certified for other job opportunities, or just have general knowledge in the event of an emergency. Learn more:

Thinking about taking on an initiative or volunteer opportunity? Remember to keep It balanced!

It’s important for students to consider the connections between their work in the community and on campus. Is there a way one relates to the other? If so, your community involvement can be a great way to make connections and develop new ideas for your research or clinical work. Do you prefer to keep the two separate? Engaging your passions outside of work can keep you energized and connected with community members outside of your academic and professional pursuits. Either way, remember to balance your commitments, manage your time, and take care of yourself while you are doing so for your community

The post Making Change: Your Community appeared first on Campus Life.

Following our Leadership is Making Change post, which was written in response to the many stories of racial inequality that plague our country, the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development at Ģ������Ƶ made a vow to provide support for and education about marginalized cultures and identities. ��are defined as “groups and communities that experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions.”����The Making Change series features monthly posts that share historical backgrounds, educational resources (to read, watch, and listen), and activism opportunities centered around a specific culture, identity, or community.

Our goal with our October post is to inform our students both about the history, importance, and necessity of voting in November’s election as well as provide resources for understanding the election process and how the U.S. government works. The resources below are meant to be non-partisan and shared only as valuable resources for both current and historical issues.

We strive everyday to educate our students to be impactful campus and community leaders. Leadership begins with education. This resource list is not exhaustive, but will provide the opportunity to begin the journey of educating yourself and those around you.

Start Here

To Watch

Rock The Vote, YouTube
Through sharp and hard-hitting animation rooted in a youth pop cultural aesthetic, this video speaks directly to millennials’ sense of what is exciting, important and cool. By doing so, the video engages them in a discussion about America’s voting history and inspires them to register to vote.

CrashCourse, YouTube
Host Craig tries to get inside the heads of voters by discussing how voters make decisions. Now obviously, like all decision making, voter decisions are influenced by a multitude of factors, but the three we are going to focus on today (and the three political scientists seem to think play the biggest role) are party loyalty, the issues involved in an election, and candidate characteristics. Now this all might seem like common sense, and well it sort of is, but it’s important to be aware of and take into account the factors that influence our decisions – especially when considering that many voters are not particularly well-informed.

YouTube
Created by Indiana University, is a series of videos to educate students about the importance of voting. The second installment discusses the basics of voting for those going to the polls for the first time.

Eric Liu, TEDTalk
Many people like to talk about how important voting is, how it’s your civic duty and responsibility as an adult. Eric Liu agrees with all that, but he also thinks it’s time to bring joy back to the ballot box. The former political speechwriter details how he and his team are fostering the culture around voting in the 2016 US presidential election — and closes with a powerful analysis of why anyone eligible should show up on Election Day.

Mindy Romero, TEDx Talks
Mindy Romero is the founder and director of the California Civic Engagement Project (CCEP) at the UC Davis Center for Regional Change. Romero is a political sociologist and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Davis. Her research focuses on the intersection of political behavior and race/ethnicity. Romero has been invited to speak about civic engagement and political rights in numerous venues, including provided testimony to the National Commission on Voting Rights and the California Legislature. Her research has been cited in major news outlets, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Politico and the Huffington Post.

Free on YouTube, available on Netflix
Knock Down The House takes a look at how progressives made moves after Trump’s 2016 win. The film follows the campaigns of four outsider women — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin — as they fight to gain seats in the House of Representatives during the 2018 election cycle.

Available on Netflix
A Netflix original documentary, Mitt is a rare and intimate account of one man’s quest for the presidency. Given unprecedented access by Mitt Romney and his family for six years, Mitt follows the former governor’s presidential aspirations, from Christmas 2006 to his initial run to become the Republican nominee in 2008 and through his Presidential concession speech in 2012. Director Greg Whiteley travels alongside the campaign through interactions with potential voters, preparations for the debates, personal moments with his family and concluding with final presidential election night results. Whatever side you’re on, see another side.

Available on Amazon Prime
An epic film that chronicles the untold story of the final four months of the man regarded as America’s greatest President. Featuring an all star ensemble cast led by Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, this movie explores Lincoln not just as the commander-in-chief of a country in chaos, but also as a man with moral courage and hope, a progressive thinker who challenged the status quo.

Available on Amazon Prime
Inspired by true events, “Suffragette” movingly explores the passion and heartbreak of those who risked all they had for women’s right to vote – their jobs, their homes, their children, and even their lives. Academy Award nominees Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter, and three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, lead the cast of the powerful drama about the fight for equality in early-20th-century Britain. The stirring story centers on Maud, a working wife and mother who becomes an activist for the Suffragette cause alongside women from all walks of life.

To Listen

Maria and Julio are joined by Desmond Meade, the executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and the author of the new upcoming book Let My People Vote. They unpack Florida’s recent court decision that restricts returning citizens’ eligibility to vote. They also discuss voter suppression nationwide and how this will impact the 2020 election.

Every weekday, NPR’s best political reporters are there to explain the big news coming out of Washington and the campaign trail. They don’t just tell you what happened. They tell you why it matters.��

Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture. Josh Barro, representing the Center, hosts a discussion of the week’s news and issues with thought leaders on the Right and Left, and expert guests. In today’s world, the lines between parties and ideologies seem distinct, but are they really? Hear how the other side thinks on the issues that matter most. From the news that dominates the headlines to the important topics below the fold, Left, Right & Center busts the opinion bubbles and echo chambers with genuine discussion and real talk. On the air since 1996, Left, Right & Center is consistently ranked among the top politics and news podcasts.

Voted “Favorite Political Podcast” by Apple Podcasts listeners. Stephen Colbert says “Everybody should listen to the Slate Political Gabfest.” The Gabfest, featuring Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz, is the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks.

The news tells you what’s going on, but not what to make of it. Every week New York Times Opinion columnists Frank Bruni, Ross Douthat and Michelle Goldberg explain the argument from each side of the political spectrum, so you can decide where you stand and how to persuade the opposition.

Welcome to The Brown Girls Guide to Politics — the one stop shop for women of color who want to hear and talk about the world of politics. Host A’shanti Gholar leads conversations with women changing the face of politics. Episodes include interviews with politicians, candidates, and influencers. Get ready for roundtables, analyzing current events, and more!

Let’s vote through this apocalypse together. The executive directors of Vote.org and Spread The Vote are here to answer your voting questions with activists, politicians, and your favorite celebs. Vote! is for anyone who has ever felt powerless, overwhelmed, under-resourced, or just plain lost when it comes to voting — aka pretty much all of us!

A new series of talks by David Runciman, in which he explores some of the most important thinkers and prominent ideas lying behind modern politics – from Hobbes to Gandhi, from democracy to patriarchy, from revolution to lock down. Plus, he talks about the crises – revolutions, wars, depressions, pandemics – that generated these new ways of political thinking. From the team that brought you Talking Politics: a history of ideas to help make sense of what’s happening today.

To Read

We encourage you to utilize your local library or��. Books can also be requested through the Ģ������Ƶ State Library when classes are back in session. Students may be eligible to access some of the titles below with a����or��.

The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience
Hilary Rodham Clinton & Chelsea Clinton
Pitted against an often antagonistic media, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton have made difficult choices, for themselves and for others, with grace and fortitude. Here they share a hundred profiles of the women who have inspired them through tough moments: resilient figures from the past — Harriet Tubman, “the Moses of her people,” and�� Rachel Carson, the environmental Cassandra — and the present, such as charismatic activist Malala Yousafzai and the virtuoso novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Aidichie. These captivating stories point the way toward a kinder future for us all.

West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House
Gautam Raghavan
When we elect a president, we elect with them an entire team that will join them in the West Wing to help run the country. Each of these staffers has a story to tell, and in West Wingers, Barack Obama’s White House staff reveals how these extraordinary citizens shape the presidency and the nation.

In these moving and revealing personal stories, eighteen Obama staffers bring us deep inside the presidency, offering intimate accounts of how they made it to the White House, what they witnessed, and what they accomplished there.�� We hear from a married gay staffer pushing the president towards marriage equality; a senior aide working to implement the Affordable Care Act while battling Stage IV cancer; a hijab-wearing Muslim adviser accompanying the President to a mosque. In each one we see the human face of government, staffers devoting themselves to the issues that have defined their lives. From the triumphs of Obamacare and marriage equality to the tragedy of the Charleston shooting, this book tells the history of the Obama presidency through the men and women who worked tirelessly to support his vision for America. More than just a history though, West Wingers is an inspiring call to arms for public service, a testament to the possibility of real social change, and a powerful demonstration of what true diversity, inclusivity, and progress can look like in America.

Leadership: In Turbulent Times
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Are leaders born or made? Where does ambition come from? How does adversity affect the growth of leadership? Does the leader make the times or do the times make the leader?

In��Leadership, Goodwin draws upon the four presidents she has studied most closely—Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights)—to show how they recognized leadership qualities within themselves and were recognized as leaders by others. By looking back to their first entries into public life, we encounter them at a time when their paths were filled with confusion, fear, and hope.

Leadership��tells the story of how they all collided with dramatic reversals that disrupted their lives and threatened to shatter forever their ambitions. Nonetheless, they all emerged fitted to confront the contours and dilemmas of their times. This seminal work provides an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field. In today’s polarized world, these stories of authentic leadership in times of apprehension and fracture take on a singular urgency.

One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy
Carol Anderson
In her��New York Times��bestseller��White Rage, Carol Anderson laid bare an insidious history of policies that have systematically impeded black progress in America, from 1865 to our combustible present. With��One Person, No Vote, she chronicles a related history: the rollbacks to African American participation in the vote since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Known as the��Shelby��ruling, this decision effectively allowed districts with a demonstrated history of racial discrimination to change voting requirements without approval from the Department of Justice.

Focusing on the aftermath of��Shelby, Anderson follows the astonishing story of government-dictated racial discrimination unfolding before our very eyes as more and more states adopt voter suppression laws. In gripping, enlightening detail she explains how voter suppression works, from photo ID requirements to gerrymandering to poll closures. And with vivid characters, she explores the resistance: the organizing, activism, and court battles to restore the basic right to vote to all Americans.

Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America
Nancy MacLean
Behind today’s headlines of billionaires taking over our government is a secretive political establishment with long, deep, and troubling roots. The capitalist radical right has been working not simply to change who rules, but to fundamentally alter��the��rules of democratic governance. But billionaires did not launch this movement; a white intellectual in the embattled Jim Crow South did.��Democracy in Chains��names its true architect—the Nobel Prize-winning political economist James McGill Buchanan—and dissects the operation he and his colleagues designed over six decades to alter every branch of government to disempower the majority.

In a brilliant and engrossing narrative, Nancy MacLean shows how Buchanan forged his ideas about government in a last gasp attempt to preserve the white elite’s power in the wake of��Brown v. Board of Education. In response to the widening of American democracy, he developed a brilliant, if diabolical, plan to undermine the ability of the majority to use its numbers to level the playing field between the rich and powerful and the rest of us.

The Fifth Risk
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis’s brilliant narrative takes us into the engine rooms of a government under attack by its own leaders. In Agriculture the funding of vital programs like food stamps and school lunches is being slashed. The Commerce Department may not have enough staff to conduct the 2020 Census properly. Over at Energy, where international nuclear risk is managed, it’s not clear there will be enough inspectors to track and locate black market uranium before terrorists do.

To Act, Support, & Learn More

Campus Resources

Counseling Services
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Student Involvement and Leadership Development��
Student Affairs

Resource list compiled by Linzy Martinez, Assistant Director, Office of Student Involvement & Leadership Development

The post Making Change: Your Vote Matters appeared first on Campus Life.

Written by Jess Evora, Assistant Director, OSILD
Photos provided by M. Mateo & Ģ������Ƶ State

SGA President Maribel Mateo, who is a rising junior studying sociology and criminal justice, hails from Lawrence, MA.����She grew up in low-income neighborhood and was raised by her mother in a single-parent household.�� Things didn’t come so easy for her and her family.�� Despite the challenges, things were looking up for Maribel after she earned a scholarship to attend a private Catholic high school.�� The transition, however, was not an easy one.

“I went to Central Catholic which was an amazing school in my city, but when I arrived, it was a struggle being a Latin minority because their population [which was majority White] didn’t know how to work with us as minorities,” Maribel said. “Ultimately, I decided to transfer to Lawrence High School, which was known as being [a low performing] high school in the area.”

Ģ������Ƶ was Maribel’s first choice for college.

Despite its reputation, Maribel felt at home at Lawrence High School.�� She no longer felt like an “other”, and she actually thrived from the sense of community.�� Maribel immediately got involved, joining the varsity basketball team as a sophomore. ��“I’m so glad I joined the varsity basketball team because it helped me decide who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do,” Maribel said. “That’s where I started my personal growth.”

And what was it that Maribel decided she wanted to do? Well, she wanted to attend Ģ������Ƶ, of course!

Choosing Ģ������Ƶ State

“Ģ������Ƶ State was my first choice.�� I knew I wanted to go there,” Maribel said. “Coming from an inner city, sometimes you lose the opportunity to work on your leadership skills because you’re just trying to survive.�� I knew I had to build my leadership skills to help advocate for others.”

Maribel felt strongly that Ģ������Ƶ State would help her build the skills she needed, and time would ultimately prove that she made the right choice.

However, like many first-year students, Maribel’s first year in college was not an easy one.�� Despite the many coaches and mentors who supported her, everything about the college experience was new to her, so the road bumps were inevitable.

“I am a first-generation college student,” Maribel said. “It was beyond what I could even believe to actually go to college.”

“I lost myself because I felt excluded because of where I come from, because of who I am, and also because of how I speak,” Maribel said. “Towards the end of my first year, I felt I was completely falling off.”

Finding Her Way at WSU��

Maribel decided she would take steps to get more involved. ��One of her first steps was applying to become an Orientation Leader.�� Serving as an Orientation Leader increased her sense of community here on campus.

“When I joined Orientation, it helped me better identify who I was,” Maribel said. “I was given an opportunity to be embraced for where I came from.”

Maribel was also actively involved with the CLEWS program (Community and Leadership Experience at Ģ������Ƶ State), led by Mark Wagner, Director for the Benienda Center for Civic Engagement.�� Maribel acknowledges the CLEWS program for having a large impact on her WSU experience.

From that point on, Maribel was determined to get more involved in order help other students embrace who they are.�� She went on to serve a second year with the Orientation program.�� She was also hired as a Resident Assistant for Residence Life, a Student Manager in the Student Center, and a student employee in the Wellness Center.

In addition, Maribel wanted to do as much as she could to advocate for the student voice on campus.�� She ran for Student Government Association (SGA) President and was successfully elected in the Spring of 2018. ��She assumed her duties as SGA President beginning fall 2018.

All of these responsibilities were not enough for Maribel.�� She also joined the 2020 Class Committee to ensure that everyone in her class would have a voice in helping to shape their senior year experience.�� One of the main goals of this committee is to increase class pride.

Reflections on Her Journey

As Maribel wraps up her first semester as SGA President, we sat down with her to discuss how she thinks she is doing.

Maribel believes there is always room for improvement on campus.

How do you think you’ve changed as a leader throughout your time at WSU, and what aspects of your experience most influenced this change?

Maribel:��“I believe that I’ve been able to grow as a leader by understanding different points of views. I can now use my abilities to advocate, not just for myself, but for others too.”

“I’m also learning to listen more, and I try to understand what others are trying to say before I speak. I try to make sure I confirm and I understand what people are saying instead of just going with my own opinion and my own beliefs.”

What are some of your goals for SGA this year?

Maribel: “I want to change the culture so we actually change the idea of what we believe is good enough. We can do so much more as a campus. We should always focus on what can we do better. There is always room to improve.”

“Diversity, equality, and understanding are so important. I want to do what I can to help contribute to a more inclusive community.”

“Campus safety, ethical safety, and unity through understanding are also areas in which I hope to focus. ��Lastly, I want students to feel like they can call the community our home.”

What advice do you have for students who are still trying to figure out what role they want to play in the campus community?

Maribel: “One thing I would say is try anything and everything. Don’t be discouraged by who’s doing what. Seek out the things you never thought you would do. It’s okay to ask for advice and make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing. Make sure you love what you’re doing. Don’t stick with something just because of your friends. There are so many opportunities on campus – big or small. Keep trying. Never stop trying.”

Maribel is excited to continue her efforts to bring people together. She believes in the power of the Ģ������Ƶ State community to get things done.��

“It’s on us to pay attention. It’s on us to make WSU a home,” Maribel said. “It’s not just on me as SGA President, but it’s on us. It’s on everyone to make that change.”

Thank you Maribel for your passion and the amazing advocacy work you’ve already done at WSU thus far. We can’t wait to see the lasting impact of your efforts.

Cheers to Leadership. Cheers to Passion!

Sincerely,

The Office of Student Involvement & Leadership Development

The post SGA President Maribel Mateo | Advocating for All Students appeared first on Campus Life.

Written by Jess Evora, Assistant Director, OSILD
Photos provided by M. Reyes-Ponce

The President of Ģ������Ƶ State’s Third World Alliance (TWA) is Manny Reyes-Ponce, a third-year student here on campus.�� Last year, Manny led TWA (a student organization that focuses on bringing multiculturalism, pluralism, and diversity to campus) to great success.

He is now going into his second year as President. ��However, if you were to ask Manny his role on campus, he would simply tell you that he is a proud first-generation college student studying Business Administration at Ģ������Ƶ State, and he is a student first.

“Personally I don’t think titles are important,” Manny said. ��“I feel that, sometimes, if you are given a title, it can be used to taken advantage of situations.”

Therefore, Manny does not focus on his title as President of TWA, but rather views himself as a member of a team.�� He strongly believes that both learning and working with a team are two important components of leadership. ��Therefore, he is intentional in making sure he engages in learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

The Office of Student Involvement sat down with Manny recently to learn more about his work both on campus and within the local community.

Leadership through Campus Involvement

If you were looking for Manny on campus, you might find him in class. You may find him in the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) with his advisor Laxmi Bissoondial, or in the TWA Office. ��You might also see him in the Student Involvement office, speaking with the office’s director, Kristie McNamara, about logistics for an event. ��Finally, you may very well find Manny out in the local community helping to engage youth in conversations related to unity among diversity.

Manny is very much involved in his community, and it has shaped his view regarding the definition of leadership.

“Everyone is a leader in their own way,” Manny said. ��“Some people are more vocal. Others show their leadership through action.�� Everyone has their own type of leadership, and everyone can learn from one another.”

When leading a group, Manny likes to focus on ensuring he creates an inclusive environment. “For me, I personally like to get the voices and opinions of the people,” Manny said. ��“It’s important to me to hear everyone out.”

Manny explained that through his work and collaboration with other leaders on campus, he has learned the importance of taking the time to truly listen to what those around him have to say.�� ��He has also learned to take pieces of what he appreciates about his peers’ leadership style to create his own unique way of leading.

“I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with my peers on campus,” Manny said. ��“They give me another lens to see leadership because everyone has their own leadership style.”

Manny has also come to realize that leadership can be tough.�� It is not easy to lead a diverse group of individuals to accomplish a common goal.�� However, learning to work with diversity in a group is extremely important. This has been one of the biggest lessons Manny has learned during his time here at WSU.

“I’ve also learned that you can’t please everybody,” Manny said. “But the aim is to try please the majority.”

Making an Impact

In addition to his commitment to TWA, Manny worked this past summer as a Resident Advisor for Ģ������Ƶ State’s Upward Bound program (a pre-college program for local high school students). ��He has also dedicated his time to lending a hand to Ģ������Ƶ States’s Alternatives for Individual Development (AID) program through the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

As a native of Ģ������Ƶ, Manny also feels it is important to give back to the community. He has been an active member of the program (CETS) for the past 9 years.�� CETS is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the sport of soccer to unify diverse communities in the pursuit of collective empowerment.�� Manny has been with the organization for 9 years.

Manny with members of Ģ������Ƶ’s Culture Exchange Through Soccer (CETS) program | Photo Copyright: CETS

“We organize Ģ������Ƶ World Cup for both men and women,” Manny said.

The wide range of countries that have been represented in this event is a testament to the diversity of the city of Ģ������Ƶ.�� Manny explained that the teams participating in the Ģ������Ƶ World Cup represent many countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, Somalia, Iraq, Albania, Myanmar, and Italy – just to name a few. ��In order to qualify to represent a country in the tournament, the majority of members on each team must come from the specific country.

Manny’s family is from El Salvador, and he is happy to share that El Salvador has a team participating in the games. Manny also explained that his cultural background has had a large impact on the development of his leadership style.

“When I visit El Salvador, I notice people are very hard-working,” Manny said. “Things might be hard, but as long as you get the job done at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.”

Leading Third World Alliance (TWA) into a New Academic Year

Manny brings this mindset into his work with TWA.�� Looking ahead to this new academic year, he is most excited to work with the new team of TWA leaders to see what they can accomplish.

“We had our retreat recently, and we had a lot of time to bond,” Manny said. “I’m looking forward to working with all of them. With last year’s team, I didn’t know what to expect and it worked out very well.�� So I’m excited to see that I am going to have a great experience once again.”

Manny with the Third World Alliance Executive Board and their Advisors from the Office of Multicultural Affairs during their 2018 retreat

Manny encourages the members of his team to take an active role and become more involved, not just in TWA, but in anything that interests them in the community.

“I’m looking forward to seeing who is going to emerge as our next great leader as the school year ends,” Manny said.�� Manny is also excited to collaborate with other student leaders across campus, as well as other departments and offices.

With his positive outlook and his eagerness for teamwork, we are excited to see the impact that Manny will continue to make at Ģ������Ƶ State this academic year.

“I feel good about what we can all do together as community,” Manny said.

We do too, Manny! Best of luck at Ģ������Ƶ State this year! Go Lancers.

The post Manny Reyes-Ponce | Third World Alliance President appeared first on Campus Life.

Written by Jess Evora, Assistant Director, OSILD
Photos provided by H. Servatius

Students entering WSU understand that their goal is to make the most out of their college experience by getting involved on campus and performing their best in class.�� With so many opportunities here on campus, we don’t always look beyond our campus borders to explore the impact we can make in the surrounding community.�� WSU Alum Herman Servatius ’18 believes that making time to support the surrounding community is a vital part of the Ģ������Ƶ experience.

“One of the things I find fascinating about a collegiate space is the population turnover,” Herman said. “Many students will spend around four years to get their degree, which in the grand scheme of things is not a long time to be somewhere.�� So for example, at a place like WSU students might come here, live in Ģ������Ƶ for four years, and then leave for new pastures to start the next chapter of their lives.”

“In my experience, I’ve seen people come to WSU, earn their degree, and move on without much thought to their surrounding community,” Herman said. “While I don’t think there is anything wrong with that approach, I do believe it’s a huge missed opportunity.”

This was an opportunity that Herman – a native of the city of Ģ������Ƶ – did not want to miss.�� Therefore, he decided he wanted to give back to the surrounding community in a meaningful way before he graduated from Ģ������Ƶ State.

During his senior year, he served as the Co-Chair of the Student Government Association’s Have a Heart Auction, an annual event that in 2018 raised $25,000 for three local organizations in the city of Ģ������Ƶ: , , and .�� This is an accomplishment for which Herman and his Co-Chairs, Alex Murphy and Carissa Rodriguez, are very proud.

“Wherever we are in life we have the opportunity to contribute to our surrounding community,” Herman said. “Community is a very broad term. Communities can range from the entire county of Ģ������Ƶ, to a neighborhood, to just the people who live on your street. ��So, I challenge anyone with a desire to give back and be involved to discover what type of community they feel strongly towards and contribute to it, regardless of whether they are there long-term [Ģ������Ƶ residents] or not.”

Fortunately for Ģ������Ƶ State students, there are countless opportunities to give back to the community in their own way.�� WSU as an institution is very involved in the community.�� We have many programs and opportunities that allow our students to get involved as well.

The Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development (OSILD) works to support many student organizations that give back to the community, including Enactus and WooServe among many others.����The Binienda Center for Civic Engagement is an office specifically dedicated to connecting students with the surrounding community through meaningful experiences during which students can make a real impact.

In addition, our Career Services office is very well connected to local companies doing great work for the surrounding community.�� These companies welcome Ģ������Ƶ State students to contribute to the local community through internships.�� Many WSU Alumni stay in the area and work full-time for these very same companies.

Giving back to the community is one of the best ways to develop your leadership skills. Through his own experiences, Herman was able to understand what kind of a leader he wanted to become.

“Your comfort level and leadership style will naturally evolve if you keep active in college,” Herman said. “So try to dig deep and by honest with yourself about what you want.�� If you focus on those things, then opportunities will arise from them.”

Here in the Office of Student Involvement, we believe all students can become great leaders like Herman.�� Giving back to the surrounding community is a great way to begin that journey.

What impact would you like to make during your time as a Lancer?�� You may not have determined your answer to that question quite yet.�� However, we would be delighted to help you find out.�� Feel free to stop by the Office of Student Involvement (Student Center, 2nd Floor) to say hello and see how you can get involved. We promise we’re friendly : )

Good luck Lancers! We are excited to see the great work you will do for our community this academic year – both on and off campus.

The post Alumni Feature: Herman Servatius ’18 on Leadership in the Community appeared first on Campus Life.