I am originally from the Republique de Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geography at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I live at Cosmo House since March 2003. The great experience of living at Cosmo highly helped me understand that “above all nation is humanity” and strengthened my personality in order to serve other people all over the World. As examples, we organized an amazing Côte d’Ivoire coffee hour and participated in the YMCA International Dinner in Spring 2004. I was the interim President of Cosmo from December 15, 2005 to January 2006 and traveled to Côte d’Ivoire last summer 2006 to deliver the Cosmopolitan Club donation to Katiali inhabitants. I will be the new Cosmopolitan Club Student President beginning in December 2006 upon Felix’s departure.
This message is also an opportunity to send a distinguished “thank you” to my predecessor Felix Autenrieth for all his actions to enhance Cosmo’s motto “above all nations is humanity.” Among all he did on behalf of the club, I will mention the daily Cosmo residence management, his personal investment in coffee hours, and his active participation in the Katiali project. Felix challenged his fear of the Ivorian rebels occupying the north of the country since September 2002 and traveled last summer 2006 with me to deliver the Cosmo club donated money and actively participated to the repair of the primary school of Katiali. All the inhabitants of Katiali and myself are appreciative to him.
During the incoming spring 2007 semester, Cosmo Club is planning several events. These events are the traditional Thursday nights coffee hours, international Dinners, and fund raising for donations to an elementary school in Lukoyanov, Russia. The Cosmo incoming activities will receive a special African stamp next semester. The African Students Associations (ASO) aims to actively participate in the YMCA international Dinner. ASO will also demonstrate the African cultural diversity during the coffee hours in the month of April dedicated to Africa. One of the points of attractions is the highly promising Cameroonian coffee hour. Visitors will enjoy cultural diversity, foods, traditional dances, and drinks “made in Cameroon” especially for the event.
I will close this message with strong hope that my presidency will enhance Cosmo Club’s activities and services through the participation of all the UIUC campus community. I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2007.