ASOSU Official Blog

Name: Alfredo Najar

Position: Executive Director of Campaign Resources

Favorite food: “I love mexican food, spanish food and whatever tastes good.”

Favorite actor/actress: “I like comedies, thrillers and action movies.”

Favorite book: “enriques journy”

One leader/activist that has inspired you: ” My parents inspire me every dam day.”

How do we end up where we are today?

This question always races through my mind when I think about life and its consequences.

Today, I gave a speech at START to incoming first-year Beavers. I am not one to enjoy the limelight often, yet during that quick, nervous speech, I realized that these students were just like me when I began my journey here at OSU: lost (mentally and physically at times), confused, but overall excited for the future.

Fortunately, that sense of confusion, of being lost, and of excitement has yet to leave me – especially today as I write this post.

My name is Sokho, and I am grateful and humbled to be serving the students of Oregon State University with Tonga and the rest of the ASOSU Executive Branch. I have had the opportunity to work in several different places on campus learning what it means, to me, to be responsible, accountable, and reliable. With every new experience, I reaffirm my understanding that with every day comes new opportunities to explore, to grow and to better our selves as individuals and as a community. I do not know everything about our beloved campus, but I do know one thing: I will be there for those who need a helping hand. We are in this journey together, and for this year, during my time as Vice President, I have the honor to be there for any student – for all students, who need someone listen and to act accordingly. I do not know what the future holds, but I do know that together, as one campus, we can strive towards a future united.

My given name, Sokho, is derived from the Pali word “Sukha” or happiness.

If there is one thing I have learned in these past few years, it would be to do what makes you happy – enjoying life to the fullest as time slowly trickles down towards our graduation. With every passing day, we have the ability to reach out, to help and to become a greater part of this every changing campus. Being happy, being content, and being an active, participating member of our university will be the catalysts of the many memories that we will make during our short time here at Oregon State University all the more memorable.

Sometimes we get caught up in the small thing that life throws at us – things that we, as students, and essentially as humans, fret over. But we will eventually forget this times: that late paper, the failed quiz, or missed opportunity to go to office hours, date with a potential partner, or chance to socialize. If I am sure about one thing, I am sure that eventually we will fade into the memory of this campus – a part of this school’s long and rich history.

Looking at pictures, talking to alumni, and reading about our school, I think to myself, what have we done to add to this school’s history? What tradition have we added? What traditions have we carried on with pride and integrity? How will our actions be remembered?

We may not be perfect (hence the term student), but knowing who we are and where we come from carries its weight in gold. It is all that we have – it is what makes us unique as individuals, as Beavers and as members of a thriving, ever-changing, dynamic community.

My favorite spot to sit and think is up on the 5th floor rotunda in the Valley Library. If you have yet to experience this -go up there, sit at a table and look out at the vale of beautiful mountains that surrounds our school. One day, when we look back at our time here, we want to remember those times we enjoyed. Those shady slopes. The countless hours we spend walking OSU’s pathways after studying. We remember the friends, the mentors, and the people who shaped our lives.

When thinking about how we end up where we are and about who we are, we think back to where we studied at, where we worked, where learned and grew.

When I get carried back to OSU, I want to be able to reminisce with pride and to look at what we were able to shape – united, and as one.

Alma mater calls,

Together we can make a difference.

Sokho Eath

ASOSU Vice President 2011-2012

Oregon State University

“Within a vale of western mountains,
There’s a college we hold dear.
Her shady slopes and fountains
Oft to me appear.
I love to wander on the pathway
Down to the Trysting Tree,
For there again I see in fancy,
Old friends dear to me.
Carry me back to OSU,
Back to her vine-clad halls;
Thus fondly ever in my mem’ry
Alma Mater calls.”

Greetings Friends, Family, Classmates and Comrades,

First and foremost, let me introduce myself. My name is Milikaleakona Hopoi but I adoringly go by Tonga on campus. My parents are immigrants from the Kingdom of Tonga and I am the first in the family to attend higher education. My grandparents were farm workers in the fields of Tonga and their parents before them the same, I am the first of many in my family. From my family, my culture and my friends I was able to find the strength and courage to run for ASOSU president with the Sokho Eath as ASOSU Vice-president. It seems to have been only a dream that we sat, discussed our issues on campus and trusted that together we can make a difference… it was from our passion to help others that we chose to rise above the crowd and run for a position that seemed only as a dream before. After elections, campaigning and debating; Sokho and I were elected April 26th as the ASOSU president and vice president. It was a day I will never forget and I’ve been living in that euphoria ever since, to know that I finally belong somewhere and it’s because we all have the same dream: to help students be successful because I know all too well what it means to struggle here and I just wanted to let other students know that they are not alone. Sokho and I are here, ASOSU is now here for them and our success towards graduation.

From winning the election and going through the process of hiring our Cabinet, Sokho and I were very clear that the only way to support students altogether is to hire from corners around campus that have not traditionally been involved with ASOSU. Our idea was to cast a net on campus and bring in the involved, spirited and passionate group to walk with us in this dream we’ve created since announcing our campaign for ASOSU office. The success that I saw was that Sokho and I were able to hire a group that represented not only different corners of campus involvement but cultural and community groups. I will be able to express my gratitude to each and everyone of the Cabinet members that have chosen to take this journey with Sokho and I this new year, everyday they come into the office… I am always grateful. It’s a big decision to choose to work for ASOSU because you have chosen to put other people’s needs before your own and that their best interest is your main interest, it’s a lot of giving for one person to do but the rewards are limitless and the life experience gained is invaluable. I knew this from my year here but I couldn’t explain it to the Cabinet for them to know that I’m grateful for their commitment so everyday I try to show it by explaining events and activities that ASOSU is involved in just so they know, there’s always a bigger purpose. Going into our third week of working together, I feel like the Cabinet (those with ASOSU and non-ASOSU background) is beginning to realize they all belong here. That maybe before they were unsure about joining but that each and every one of them have great potential here at ASOSU and it’s to help those who struggle to be successful here at Oregon State University but not only help them directly but change institutional policy to ensure that others do not endure the same pains. That is all ASOSU, helping students be successful and changing policies to reflect it because students know all too well what it means to struggle and our struggles are all very different but one thing for sure is that we all have the rights as students paying dues to be successful and graduate. ASOSU should ensure that, Sokho and I have built a Cabinet that willingly believes in the values of all students from all backgrounds and the diversity of our struggles to move us all one step closer to believing and realizing that we (students) matter and are the number one priority of this University. No question about it.

As members of ASOSU, it is our duty to hold others accountable who do not see students as priority. It is our duty and our oath to uphold that students from all corners of campus are supported and all those who support students feels supported as well. We are all one heart, with valves all throughout campus and the only way we function is by all supporting one another and believing in the one truth that is “students success is priority”… then we beat on another day, another quarter, another year.

As president, my goal is to make sure conversations happen to support one another in terms of administration, faculty, professional and support staff so that healthy change and lasting relationships are sustained around the focus that “students success is priority”. Students should never be waiting if we can give them the change and support they need today, students should never wait when success is a program, scholarship or new classroom building away. I say this with utmost integrity that I will do my best this year to ensure that students of all backgrounds and struggles are supported to find their way to walk the stage at graduation.

In the end we can only do what we can but we should always attempt to do the most when it comes to helping other because a life that is supported or feels safer is a lifetime of love in any community. I wish my grandparents can see me now, that I’m living what they’ve always told me “Treat others as you would harvest the Earth, you love and tend the soil for it’s fruits will give you life”.

If you see ASOSU around campus, come over and say Hi… chances are, we have class together or know of someone in common… or if anything, we go to the same school

With warm regards,

M. Tonga Hopoi

ASOSU Madam President 2011-2012

Oregon State University

The ASOSU Cabinet’s very own Luke Marquez (Director of Public Relations) was featured on the school newspaper.

He was asked about what he was doing this summer and responded with a stern response.

Hopefully his leadership and job title means more to him than a paycheck, which seems very evident from the captured quote.

Money talks, and is a language we all speak.

Carry on and may the force be with you Luke.

Alfredo Najar, The Executive Director of Campaign Resources stands in front of the new layout for our office space.

We had to accommodate 2 new task force directors and Alfredo had the vision of symmetry and balance in the work space which our whole team helped to execute.

Name: Patricia Lim-Pardo

Position: Executive Director of Diversity Programs

Favorite Food: “Rice and my momma’s home cooked meals.”

Favorite Movie: Saving Private Ryan

Favorite Book: Harry Potter series

One leader that has inspired you: Oprah

Name: Ravi Patel

Title: Executive Director of Government relations

Favorite food: no answer

Favorite Actress: Jessica Alba

Favorite Book: no answer

One leader/activist that has inspired you: Bhagat Singh

Name:

Andy Derringer

Position:

Executive Chief of Ops

What is your favorite food?

Greek or Thai cuisines

Who is your favorite Actor/Actress?

Jason Bateman

What is your favorite book?

The dispossessed by Ursula luguin

Who is one leader/activist that has inspired you?

Bertrand Russel

Name: Amelia Harris

Position: Executive Director of Services

Favorite food: Sriracha Hot Sauce

Favorite Movie: Revolutionary Road

Favorite Book: “Kafka Comes to America: Fighting for Justice in the War on Terror” by Steven Wax

One leader/activist that has inspired you: Audre Lorde

Name: Conrad Bockhop

Position: Executive Director of Finance

What is your favorite food?

Chicken

Who is your favorite Actor/Actress?

Denzel Washington

What is your favorite book?

Godfather

Who is one leader that has inspired you?

Michael Corleone in The Godfather series