While addressing the Campus Political Leadership Luncheon, President Mary Sue Coleman recounted a recent fireside chat in which she met a student involved in the student organization Children of Abraham.
“It was powerful to hear his story,” Coleman said of how the students, despite their differing faiths, worked together to gather medical supplies for people in developing nations. “It illustrates the power of what we can create at the University of Michigan.”
Coleman and Steve Grafton, president and CEO of the Alumni Association, spoke about leadership during the third annual luncheon. The Jan. 11 event brought together about 100 student leaders from 20 campus organizations and was sponsored by Michigan Student Assembly and hosted by LSA student and MSA representative Gibran Baydoun.
“I want to commend you for committing yourself to society and causes outside your academic success,” Coleman said. “I encourage you to seize this spirit and find ways to work together. You will advance not only your organization, but also the vitality of the University.”
This message resonated with freshman Naomi Scheinerman of Columbia, Md. She attended the luncheon as a board member for the American Movement for Israel, which she joined in her first semester at U-M.
“(Coleman’s speech) was a very good gesture to promote what’s important on campus,” Scheinerman said. “This luncheon was a great way for me to explore different views and explore over avenues that I might be interested in. It’s good to meet other people and see what they are passionate about.”
Great leaders are selfless, have the ability to embrace change and the courage to do the right thing, Grafton told the students.
“You are destined to be great leaders,” Grafton said. “You have the capacity to lead and others will follow you. The question is where will you lead them?”
To encourage interaction, event chair Baydoun said each table included a diverse mix of students from difference organizations.
“It is here that we find a place where we can agree and come together,” Baydoun said. “You all have different members, goals, missions, accomplishments and experiences. Often the mission of your organization may completely be counter to the mission of another organization at your same table. However, if we are able to recognize where we do agree instead of focusing where we do not agree, then all organizations will succeed.”
Coleman and Grafton also answered questions from the students regarding entrepreneurship on campus, how to keep education financially accessible and student involvement in administration decisions.
Coleman cited the venue change for last year’s commencement as an example of how students coming together could make a difference. While construction eliminated Michigan Stadium as a place for graduation ceremonies, an early decision to move it to Eastern Michigan University led to students filling up Coleman’s e-mail account with letters of protest, she said. In the end, after working with student leaders commencement took place in the Diag, a decision that pleased all parties.
“Your engagement strengthens us as a university,” Coleman said.
