State of HU: Call of Duty

Hello, Beautiful People! My name is Erin Rigsby, and I have the privilege of serving Howard University as Undergraduate Trustee.

Some of you have known me since Freshman Week, others of you may have encountered me on a panel or two, but most of you probably remember me from the EPIC Campaign that I ran in the spring of 2011.

As eager candidates, we all make promises to the Howard student body spanning only as far as the wings of our imaginations. Though we claim to fully grasp the needs of the University and the student body, as future trustees, we can never fully be prepared for the task that lies ahead of us.

Upon winning the election I was unsure how or where to begin, but there was one thing I did know—that the students of Howard University had called me to duty. The question was, "how would I answer?"

Since then, I have been working with the Howard University Board of Trustees and the Administration to usher the University into the next wave of contemporary leadership with innovation and purpose.

Though I can't divulge what I've done within the boardroom for reasons of confidentiality, I can assure you that the Board of Trustees has been working industriously to make great changes for Howard. I would also like to take this opportunity to update the student body on the strides that I have personally made to enhance the University.

I have been working with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Facilities and Capital Management to ensure that renovations that are compliant with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are being made at the University. I have also worked with the Office of Student Affairs to create a physical "safe space" for Howard students in the LGBTQQIA community.

Next month, I will be launching a student-driven fundraising campaign that will add to Howard University's financial pool for need-based scholarships.

However, my biggest accomplishment thus far has been a collaboration between myself, the graduate trustee, and HUSA 51, that resulted not only in the abolition of the fall 2011 purge date, but the removal of "purging" from Howard culture at large.

Because of current leadership, the next generation of Howard students will never feel the rejection of being "purged" from the University that they love.

From building renovations to academic renewal to an administration that is extremely receptive to the student voice, I would say that all in all Howard University is currently a wonderful work in progress.

I am glad to have been able to build upon its legacy so far, and I assure you that I will continue to answer your call of duty.

Erin Rigsby is a senior psychology major from Baltimore, Md.