by Kiandra Shawnta Johnson
Staff Writer
Open-mindedness, listening skills, honesty, leadership and excitement. These are some of the qualities, this year’s Afrikan American Student Alliance (AASA) president will bring to the club.
Sophomore Tiffany Wilcher will update her prior advance from club secretary to president of AASA.
“I loved AASA,” said Wilcher. “All the nooks and crannies. It brought a lot of us together; it brought a lot of people closer; mental, physical and emotional attachment.”
Wilcher, an 18-year-old business administration major with an emphasis in real estate, plans to lead AASA to a correct path.
“I plan to have lots of social gatherings, to bring in guest speakers that have knowledge and experience that will help students,” said Wilcher.
Wilcher plans to coordinate activities with other minority student clubs on campus, such as the Latino Student Forum and the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Union. She also hopes to start a high school outreach program and establish a Sisters’ Forum.
“I plan to change the perception people got of AASA last year,” said Wilcher. “I want to sponsor events that will bring all the students together.”
She intends to do this by listening to the students, getting information for events from the students, and letting the students choose their events.
Wilcher intends to learn from the mistakes of others and “use the short-comings of last year to make AASA stronger this year.”
“I believe in listening,” said Wilcher. “I think of others before myself, and I consider what I feel will benefit others.”
Harvel Lewis, coordinator of minority student affairs, said, “In my working with Tiffany, she is very conscious, she really cares about AASA. She’s a hard worker.
“She wants her club members to walk besides her, not behind her.”
“I appreciate her honesty, her directness,” said Lewis. “She knows what is needed for success, and she doesn’t mind asking for help.”
Moyofune Deas-Balewa, AASA adviser, said, “I think she is a wonderful person, she has a lot of potential to do a great job.”
“She’s strong, approachable,” she continued.
As a very involved person in high school, Wilcher was involved in Talent Search, Upward Bound, Los Angeles Renaissance and the Academic Decathlon.
Her strength is leadership, but she said she “knows how to step down and give rank to someone else.”
“She knows how to let others work and succeed,” said Lewis.
Wilcher said, “I will appreciate any and everything each member brings to the group.”
Wilcher wants students to remember AASA as bringing not only African Americans together, but also other ethnicities and people together.
“I liked her excitement abut AASA,” said Lewis, “and her expectations of this organization.”
“She has a lot of good ideas to bring to the group,” said Deas-Belewa. “I think she will do a really good job; I hope they support her.”
Wilcher wants the students to know, “I’m very open and they could come to me about anything, any problems they’re having.”
Kiandra Shawnta Johnson
