Last Friday the African Student Association took three members of their group on a field trip to Coburg to meet and learn small-town civics from Mayor Judy Volta. The field trip began with a guided tour of the city hall, followed by an interview with Volta on Coburg history and how she runs the town. Afterwards, the Coburg Chief of Police took the ASA on a larger tour around the town.
The trip to Coburg was one of several events that the ASA has been putting on in an effort to bring the club around to its former status after the group’s stagnancy last school year. The reason for its inactivity was an internal conflict that held the group’s leadership in mediation for most of the year. In the group’s Programs Finance Committee budget hearing, during which the student government body that allocates student incidental fees heard ASA’s budget request for next year, they discussed the group’s changes. Last year the group spent only 4.8 percent of their budget, a stark contrast to the 99.8 percent that it had spent the year before.
The efforts of the new ASA leadership to turn the group around saved it from losing close to half of its budget for this year. Normally, when a group fails to spend all of its budget allocated by the ASUO, the PFC cuts its budget to an average of what percentage it spent in the previous two years. After hearing how successful the ASA has been this year, the PFC reconsidered and agreed to match its funding from the last year. PFC Chairman Oscar Guerra commended the group on mobilizing again so quickly.
“Congratulations on getting your program back together and mobilizing so many people to come and support you,” Guerra said.
Armed with new leaders, the group is working to turn its image around. ASA President John Marshal, who took up the position last August, has implemented a series of changes in the group to help ensure its lasting survival. First, in an attempt to boost membership, he said he focused the group on giving African students a “home away from home.” This involved both informing members about Africa, and providing African entertainment. Marshal’s secondary goal is to develop leaders within the group.
Logistically, Marshal has made some changes to the ASA leadership system that he said will help prevent future infighting. Each year the group will hold elections for the president and vice president. Once this election takes place, the president will then appoint the rest of his officers.
Marshal said these changes have worked to move the ASA in a positive direction. Membership is currently at 90. The group has announced several more events for the winter and spring terms, including a winter dance on Feb. 23 from 8 p.m. to midnight in Agate Hall, which Marshal expects to bring in hundreds of people.