by Ifeyinwa U. Onyenekwu, President, African Student Organization)

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The past three years I have had the pleasure of being a part of the African Student Organization (ASO) at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign (UIUC). My first interaction was as a member, then as Vice President, and currently as President. If I know anything about the organization, it is that its existence and accomplishments would not have been possible without a dedicated executive board and loyal members who look forward to gathering and fellowshipping together outside of their hectic academic, personal, and professional obligations.

ASO is an organization that unites African students with a goals of raising political consciousness and providing progressive leadership on issues related to Africa. The organization also provides members with an environment conducive to successful completion of their academic objectives, and opportunities to learn about people from different backgrounds while helping students get settled and adjusted to the UIUC area. Furthermore, the organization facilitates forums and discussion with African special interests while promoting unity with African Americans and Third World populations. With that said, it is with great pleasure that I take this time to honor and reflect on the history, achievements, and future direction of the African Student Organization.

Past

UIUC African Students in the 1960s engaged in and contributed to domestic and international political movements and had hopes to return home and contribute in rebuilding their nation state. This is evidenced by a 1961 preamble, found in the archives, written by African students at the University of Illinois asking to become a registered student organization. The document reads, “We, the African students at the University of Illinois, assembled here in Urbana, in this first meeting of our General Assembly, conscious of our responsibilities to the problems facing our continent and its people, and desiring to disseminate true and adequate information about the African people—their history, culture, traditions, problems, and aspirations—hereby proclaim and solemnly reaffirm our unswerving loyalty to this constitution and to the realization of its objectives.

We further assert and proclaim the unity among ourselves and our solidarity to mobilize collective organized effort necessary to the realization of our common objectives hereunder enunciated in the Constitution. We therefore affirm our dedication to the cause which we have proclaimed.”

This document offers insight into the purpose and intentions of African college students and supports claims that suggest voluntary African people pursued American higher education with the objective of returning and developing their home country after independence. Although, the document does not reveal the ages of the African students it is appropriate to believe that they were men who felt immense responsibility and pressure to become political leaders. American educated African students in the 1960s lived during a time where educating future leaders who could develop nations was a high priority. Similarly, ASO currently has a strong African male presence and has been able to maintain and accomplish many noteworthy achievements more recently.

Achievements

The last couple of years ASO has focused on establishing and maintaining meaningful partnerships with departments and community members, and has successfully been able to grow sponsorship and departmental interest in the annual ASO forum. In this same vein, the number of ASO forum participants has grown with the help of faculty involvement. In addition, ASO has participated in advocacy by bringing attention to issues that are plaguing the continent. Specifically, ASO organized a rally to bring attention to the 200+ Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped by terrorists.

ASO has also educated the community on African history and current events by continuously participating in the YMCA’s coffee hour. The YMCA spotlights areas by having people from different countries present facts and cook dishes or delicacies to debunk myths and share common and relatable experiences. ASO also celebrates our members’ academic accomplishments by supporting and attending dissertations defenses and graduation ceremonies. Our members study an array of disciplines and are recruited to work in diverse sectors locally and abroad, ranging from Ivy League post docs, faculty positions, and industry careers to administrative positions across the world. Many ASO alumni have returned to their country of origin and have positively contributed to their country’s development while maintaining connections with their departments and colleagues in Urbana-Champaign.

Future Directions

ASO looks forward to growing and extending the organization’s outreach to student and community members. We are excited of the many possibilities and directions the organization can go in the future. Our goal is to maintain and improve upon some of the traditional events (i.e., Quad Day, ASO forum, Coffee Hour). In addition, we also plan on the following:

-           Growing and diversifying membership that represents more regions (i.e., north, south, east and west), languages, religions in Africa

-           Collaborating with faculty and other international student populations

-           Engaging in community outreach

-           Bringing and introducing African entertainers to the Champaign-Urbana area

-           Increasing the number of departments, companies, groups, and individual sponsors

-           Being the main resource for students and faculty engaging in conversations about the African continent and its populations