My name is Andre Jones II (He/Him) and I am a Global Studies Major. I am involved on campus and in the community in several roles. I am mostly recognized as an ASPLU senator class of ‘22. I am a part of GREAN club and SSC. However, I took the time allotted as a senator to focus a lot on issues regarding social justice. I look at social justice work as everyday trying to express oneself and using your voice towards developing your truest self, what you believe in and align with, all while implementing standards better than the past.
I found this year the intersectionality of Environmentalism, black and indigenous organizations within Sunrise Tacoma and coalitions alike to be so refreshing. I saw firsthand the importance of integration and collaboration between diversity, justice, and sustainability. Those values should be more ingrained with each other, and they may not be as independent as I thought. My ideology is that your next move should be your best and to take life one day at a time. To be happy I feel you should strive to be more and more selfless.
To be truthful I was recommended into positions and clubs by many of my friends around campus. I use that as motivation to be an enthusiastic member of the coalitions and clubs, but for the future leaders reading this, you should also recognize the importance of you and your voice, and the potential impact you may have and acknowledge where credit is due. Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability isn't just a temporary obligation to me, but a measure of my growth.
I remember I decided to write a resolution about the importance of keeping our faculty of color. I asked myself why? Well why not me? Who else was supposed to have done it?
I did it because I felt like no else was going to protect our faculty of color. I decided this needed to be addressed, and I took the proactive approach to do so. If there is no one else about to step up, I said there has to be something someone else is doing or someone else would handle it. I decided instead of waiting or hoping for a maybe, I felt compelled to look out for future students feeling they have adequate representation of diversity at our school. I feel like a leader would have done so. The point of college is self agency, and to use that to express yourself. For many students this may be their first time.
I did it because I felt like no else was going to protect our faculty of color. I decided this needed to be addressed, and I took the proactive approach to do so. If there is no one else about to step up, I said there has to be something someone else is doing or someone else would handle it. I decided instead of waiting or hoping for a maybe, I felt compelled to look out for future students feeling they have adequate representation of diversity at our school. I feel like a leader would have done so. The point of college is self agency, and to use that to express yourself. For many students this may be their first time.
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