STUDENTS COLLABORATE TOWARD SOCIAL JUSTICE
At AUP, students are encouraged, with the support of faculty and staff, to take the initiative in establishing their own projects and organizations. Having a small community makes collaboration easy, helping students turn their ideas into reality. One prominent example of this is the History, Law and Society (HLS) Board, a student organization that works closely with faculty in the Department of History and Politics. The board was established in response to the desire of students majoring in the discipline to engage in activism and make a tangible impact on social justice.
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“We wanted to offer a space for people interested in integrating on-the-ground social change movements into their studies,” explains Professor Michelle Kuo, faculty advisor to the HLS Board. Back in 2019, Kuo co-led a trip to the US–Mexico border, during which students provided legal counsel in a migrant detention center to people seeking asylum. “There was so much energy after that trip,” says Kuo, who also highlights a Cultural Program study trip focusing on democracy in Taiwan as a critical factor in establishing the board. The idea was twofold; the board would collaborate with faculty on departmental events and help build a strong community around the major. “Students are so eager to be part of social change,” says Kuo. “Tapping into that as a teacher has been one of my greatest pleasures.”
Kuo initially appointed students to run the board, but board members soon began to self-organize, developing their own appointment process and switching to a non-hierarchical management structure. Since 2020, the board has had three directors, each taking on a different core part of the organization. The most recent board consisted of Zach Egan ’22, an HLS junior who handled administration; Krystel Nozier ’22, an HLS junior who covered events management; and Jasmine Cowen ’21, a history senior who headed up the communications team. “They are all very encouraging people who reflect the kind of community we wanted to create,” says Kuo. “The HLS major is a tight-knit community,” explains Zach. “Faculty trust us and let us represent the department.” Zach and his team are charged with a weekly newsletter, exploring topics related to current affairs
