Senator
works to increase awareness, communication
By
Latifah Muhammad
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Zion Redie sets an example for current and prospective students by involving
herself in many organizations on campus and through her work in the Associated
Student Senate as a senator-at-large.
Redie, a senior psychology major, came to Cal State Long Beach after her brother,
who was enrolled at CSULB, said he enjoyed the school’s environment.
She came to CSULB looking to get involved in on-campus activities and organizations.
“
I chose to get involved in everything Long Beach State had to offer,” she
said.
Aside from being a student, she is a resident assistant and a member of the
African Student Union (ASU), Black Psychology Student Association, Black Business
Student Association, Sisterfriends and Leadership Academy, which Redie credits
for helping her with her leadership skills. She is also an academic peer adviser
for the Educational Opportunity Program and is involved in church ministries
at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where she is a member of the congregation.
She decided to run for senator after attending an ASU meeting, where a student
who was involved in ASI encouraged black students to run for office.
“
My last year I wanted to be involved in something on a bigger scale,” she
said.
As a senator, Redie deals with student issues such as funding for on-campus
organizations and is also on the Recreation Sports Advisory Board Committee,
where she, along with other members, work to fulfill the recreational needs
for students on campus.
“
[ASI] teaches me about politics. Everywhere you go, you’re going to need
politics,” she said.
When she started her term in ASI, she did not know what to expect from the
other members, but that changed as the group began to get to know each other.
“
We had to find a way for work together because we’re serving students,” she
said.
Redie wanted to increase the communication between ASI members and students
so students who are not involved in government are made aware of what’s
going on in ASI. By making announcements in her classes, when permitted, and
posting information on the bulletin board in her dorm, she gets the word out
and informs students there is a forum where they can come and speak about issues
on campus through ASI.
Shafali Mistry, senator for the College of the Arts, met Redie in the Senate.
According to Mistry, they immediately hit it off.
“
Zion’s really good natured. I trust her,” she said.
“
The best quality about Zion is that she’s really passionate about what
she does,” said program assistant for Program Council Sufia Toorawa.
The two met and began working together in 2003 when Redie was the vice president
of ASU. Toorawa, who keeps up to date with what is going on in ASI by attending
weekly Senate meetings, sees Redie as somewhat of a mentor.
“
She doesn’t have a hidden agenda,” she said. “With Zion,
what you see is what you get.”
Redie said her time at CSULB has been well-rounded due to her involvement in
organizations on campus.
“
There’s nothing that I could’ve done to make it better,” she
said.
In honor of black history month, Redie said black history should not be confined
to the shortest month of the year and should be celebrated as a part of American
history all year long.
“
Why just have one month where we’re educating people on black history?” She
said.
Redie, whose parents were born in Africa, said when she came to college she
learned the black history she felt she should have already known. As a result,
her future plans include getting master’s
degrees in business and social work. She eventually wants to open a non-profit
organization focused on aiding and preparing youth financially, socially and
educationally for college. Redie said the idea came from a visit to Africa,
where she learned of an organization with a similar goal. She wants to make
that idea a reality.
“
I’m seeing sophomore and freshman students, and they don’t have
the money but they have the motivation,” she said.
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