[ASU] Vote Filipo Lubua the 2014/2015 ASU President

[Lubua, Filipo]

Dear ASU members,

I am writing from Chicago, where I am attending the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) conference. I am sorry that I will not personally be present on today's election, but I hope that you guys will vote me the 2014/2015 ASU President. I will be represented by Nii Nikoi, and I hope that you guys will give him (me) enough support. 

We need to have a vibrant association, and that can be acquired if we a vibrant leadership. For those who have been participating in ASU programs, know my unquestionable commitment to the ASU. My goal is to make, along with all of you, the ASU that will stand for its course, its goals, its dreams. Please see the forwarded email below, for my manifestos.

Please show up for the election today, and vote FILIPO LUBUA.

Let's revive the African dream in Ohio.

Thanks so much

Filipo Lubua
ASU President candidate









________________________________________
From: Lubua, Filipo
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 1:32 PM
To: asu-l at listserv.ohio.edu
Subject: Vote Filipo Lubua the 2014/2015 ASU President

Hello ASU members,

I am glad to inform all of you that I am vying for the position of ASU president, and  I think it is a good idea to involve all of you in this course.

I have been one of the most active ASU members for the two years I have been here for my MA program. I will join a PhD program in Instructional Technology in the Fall.

As some of you guys may still remember, I was nominated last year to vie for the same position (president), but I declined the nomination because I wanted to better understand our organisation (ASU). Of course, I remained a faithful member for all the time, attending every ASU meeting and participate in all on-campus events. Please support me in this years election, Saturday 26, April

The following issues will receive my special attention during my leadership, will I be elected the ASU president:

1. Reviving the African spirit of unity and togetherness among students and faculty at large. I think there have not been enough involvement of African students in ASU matters, decisions particularly, and this has caused member participation to be very low. If members are well involved, I believe, there will be more turn ups during our business meetings, and other Africa-related events on campus.

2. Involving all the African scholars on campus in ASU programs. I think we have not fully utilized opportunities which are bestowed on us by the African Studies Center. We have a lot of African/Africanist professors on campus, but we haven't adequately utilized their expertise and experience in our businesses. I would like to see ASU businesses go beyond, and involve them appropriately. As students, we will be able to learn a lot of things from them, and our organisation will prosper.

3. Connecting ASU with similar associations in the USA, and diaspora at large. For us to make the African dream alive, we need to interact with other African unions in the US. We do not exist on our own, and we can prosper if we think beyond Athens.

4. Facilitate a closer relationship between the ASU and Black Students Association on campus. These fellows are so eager to work with us, but we seem to have not realized that. They want to be well connected to African students, knowing that we share a lot of things, history particularly. They want to be involved in our businesses, and they want to explore much of the continent of their dreams, through us.

5. Bring Africa to Athens. I think we need to bring Africa even more to Athens. Athens need to know more about Africa and African life. More cultural programs, more media coverage of the African culture etc. This is our duty, and we can only achieve this by having a strong leadership.

6. Reaching Out for more people. I have realized that we have a good number of North African students (Egypty, Algeria, Libya etc.), and other Nigeria, but their particcipation on ASU matters have been very minimal, if not none at all. We need to reach out more people, to get them involved.

7. African Languages. I need to put more efforts to promote African Languages on campus, and the State of Ohio, so that we get more students to take our African language classes offered. I will work closely with Dr. Howard,  Dr. Githinji, and the African Languages Association (ALA) to have this achieved. If we get more students to take African languages, we will surely have more TA positions and more enrolment of African students for teaching those languages.

Friends, I have a lot more I am thinking about. Our esteemed association, ASU, needs committed leadership, and here I am. We need the leadership that will support Mzee Dr. Howard's initiatives on campus. We surely need that, and the time is now. Please pass the news around, and show up on the election day, Saturday, 26, 2014.

Thanks all

Filipo Lubua
ASU Presidential Candidate