Posters of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Tupac Shakur will grace the desk of ASMSU’s new director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs when he begins work in the fall.
Economics sophomore Jamein Cunningham said he is excited to be a resource for diverse student groups on campus as he sat in his soon-to-be undergraduate student government office, considering how he is going to decorate the wall behind his computer.
“I felt this was a very good way to get involved with ASMSU, and to serve a diverse community at Michigan State University,” said Cunningham, who was one of six applicants for the position.
The position, which pays $1,170 per semester, is supposed to act as a liaison between ASMSU and two student councils - Council of Progressive Students and Council of Racial Ethnic Students. ASMSU has seven representatives from the groups on each of its assemblies.
Student Assembly members make decisions on how to spend more than $1 million of student tax dollars, while Academic Assembly votes on academic issues.
Cunningham said he already knows he will spend more than the 12 required hours in his office each week, and he’s ready to jump right into the commitment.
“I want to attend as many (Council of Progressive Students and Council of Racial Ethnic Students) meetings as I can,” Cunningham said. “I just want to be a resource, and let them know I am in their corner.”
Cunningham will start training for the position next week with former Director of Racial, Ethnic and Progressive Student Affairs Melanie Olmsted.
Olmsted, who helped interview the applicants, said Cunningham was the most qualified person for the position.
“He has a lot of excitement and energy to bring to the position,” Olmsted said.
“His personality really works well with the job duties and expectations that follow along with being director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs.”
Olmsted said she went to about six or seven group meetings each week, and knowing too much about different issues could get overwhelming sometimes. During the year, she dealt with issues concerning creating a free-standing multicultural center and Black Celebratory, a graduation ceremony primarily for minority students.
“I was the (director of racial, ethnic and progressive student affairs) all day, every day, wherever I went,” she said. “Go into everything with an open mind, and a good sense of humor because it can be very stressful.”
Cunningham is a member of the Black Student Alliance and was one of two Black Caucus directors for the Residence Halls Association.
John Johnson, the alliance’s vice president, said Cunningham has developed into a good leader during the past two years. He said Cunningham has the ability to take ASMSU and connections with students to a higher level.
“He’s very headstrong, and knows the issues of the racial ethnic communities at Michigan State University,” Johnson said. “Whenever we had someone who dropped off (in BSA), he was quick to pick up the slack.”
