Full of mosquito bites and newfound inspiration, undergraduate
student councilman Chris Neal returned to UCLA from a conference in
Ghana late last month with a mission: to increase global awareness
on campus.
Neal, the external vice president of the Undergraduate Students
Association Council, traveled to the Ghanaian capital of Accra to
attend a 10-day global conference held by the International Union
of Students, a coalition uniting students worldwide.
Neal justifies the trip ““ funded by the United States
Student Association, an African affiliation of IUS, and a cash
advance from the EVP office ““ because it is his duty to
reflect all students’ interests.
“There are a large number of international students on
campus, and as an elected official, I also represent them,”
Neal said.
As a member of USSA, Neal said the meeting was held to both
reunite IUS divisions from across the globe and to discuss commonly
tackled issues. The IUS has branches in the United States, Canada,
Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Neal traveled to Ghana with USSA President Jo’ie Taylor
and USSA Student Labor Action Project Coordinator Ana Rizo.
Rizo, a UC Santa Barbara alumna, was surprised to see that local
issues important to students are globally relevant, she said.
“It was good to talk about (the issues) and see our common
struggles,” Rizo said.
Neal said the conference focused on three main issues: factors
that hinder access to higher education, the increasing epidemic of
AIDS, and the ongoing effects of war.
The group discussed ways to work together to lobby government
officials and to educate local populations, he also said.
It is significant, Neal added, that students be globally
connected in a world that is increasingly becoming smaller.
“Our world is larger than UCLA and larger than the United
States,” he said. “We are in a privileged position to
make a difference ““ this is the first step.”
Neal pointed out that he can better serve his student
constituents because of the larger resource base he has acquired.
He can provide students with information on how to get involved and
organize to advance their causes, he said.
USAC President David Dahle said although he didn’t know
that much about what Neal did in Ghana, he thinks the trip will
benefit the student government.
“All the knowledge he gained will give us all a broader
view, and more of an international perspective in all USAC
programs,” Dahle said.
Neal plans to formally present his experiences to the student
body in the form of a public forum to be held sometime in the
winter quarter. Neal also hopes to promote a more global mindset on
campus, he said.
“Students should think of themselves as international
citizens,” Neal said. “There are many ways to figure
out their roles in the international community and understand
themselves in an international context. This goes beyond the
classroom.”
Students interested in becoming more internationally active can
contact the EVP office, Neal said. Students can apply for future
USSA delegations or take part in National Lobby Day, scheduled to
take place March 7-11 next year.
Considering the diversity of the conference-goers, Neal also
said that he learned a lot from his foreign peers.
“I found them more engaged and highly aware of their
government,” Neal said, comparing international students to
students at UCLA.
Neal was also impressed by their abilities to function having
far less resources than American students, he said.
Also a member of the African Student Union, Neal gained
experiences on a personal level with the West African country,
formerly active in slave trade.
“I felt a sad connection with my ancestors,” Neal
said referring to his visit to a slave castle.
Neal added that he brings a new perspective to his fellow ASU
members having seen people in true poverty and a country making
strides.
Despite the hot weather and mosquitoes everywhere, “(the
trip) was a tremendous experience,” Neal said.
“Whether in a formal or informal setting, I learned a
lot,” he said.