Bivor Hada, Staff Writer
The Organization for Cross-Cultural Understanding (OCCU) at Sewanee has announced its new executive board for the 2025-2026 academic year, marking an exciting new chapter for the club. The new board plans to expand the club’s reach within the broader Sewanee community, strengthen cross-cultural understanding, and tackle challenges faced by the international students.
Originally founded by international students at Sewanee, OCCU focuses on building cultural bridges within the campus community. The club organizes dialogues, panels, and discussions to promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding on campus. They also host social gatherings, like potlucks, cultural festivals, and international movie nights, where diverse traditions are celebrated.
Over the years, OCCU has played a crucial role in fostering inclusivity and understanding within the Sewanee community: contributing to a more globally aware campus environment. Their past achievements include hosting the Annual International Potluck, which attracts students from all backgrounds to celebrate global traditions, and organizing panel discussions that address issues from multiple cultural perspectives. Ongoing OCCU programs celebrate holy traditions (South Asian/Hindu traditions, highlighting Black History Month, and more) to support international students and encourage meaningful cross-cultural friendships.
The newly appointed executive board members are ready to bring their unique perspectives and leadership skills to OCCU:
President: Glory Dada (C ’27)
Vice President: Jawaria Jaleel (C ’27)
Secretary: Aashray Chapagai (C ’28)
Treasurer: Raissa Kabid (C ’28)
President Dada, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience with a minor in French, has been actively involved with OCCU since her first year, serving as the secretary last year. Her leadership background includes organizing events like “Chat over Chai (tea),” and she is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for dialogue.
Vice President Jaleel, a sophomore deeply passionate about cultural dialogue and advocacy, brings fresh ideas and perspectives to the table. Jaleel has been an active member of the organization and served as the social media manager last year. Jaleel is also a Bonner Student Leader on campus which will help to create a deeper sense of engagement within the Sewanee community.
Secretary Chapagai and Treasurer Kabid, both first-year students, are eager to contribute their organizational skills and enthusiasm. Chapagai has a background in project management from his time at LearnEd, a Nepalese non-profit organization that he co-founded. Kabid has previously overlooked the finances of the Black Student Union on campus. Together, this dynamic team is poised to take OCCU to new heights.
The new leadership aims to strengthen the community by fostering deeper cross-cultural engagement, increasing membership participation, and expanding their collaborations with other student organizations. They seek to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, feels welcomed and empowered to share their unique perspectives.
Planned initiatives include launching interactive events such as the culture ambassador program, where students can take the lead in sharing aspects of their culture with the campus community through social media and other organized events. Along with this, the board plans to host discussion panels, and mentorship programs that pair international and domestic students. The OCCU also plans to continue the tradition of holding their popular larger-scale events to celebrate cultural heritage and identity.
Dada shared, “We are looking forward to working closely with student organizations to co-host cultural festivals, advocacy events, and community service projects that promote unity and awareness of different cultural perspectives.” The board aims to collaborate with other campus organizations, such as the Hispanic Organization for Latino Awareness and The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People among other student clubs, to broaden their outreach and engage more members.
Despite their enthusiasm, the new board anticipates certain challenges, such as maintaining high levels of member engagement, balancing cultural representation in their events, and navigating logistical issues related to event planning. To address these challenges, they plan to implement more interactive and diverse programming, seek partnerships with other campus organizations, and develop a detailed timeline to improve event coordination.
“We’re excited to bring fresh ideas to the table, but we know it won’t be without its hurdles. Our goal is to create events that not only celebrate different cultures but also resonate with everyone on campus,” said Chapagai. The board also expects active participation from club members and support from the wider student body to achieve their goals. They believe that fostering a sense of community and belonging will be key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring the club’s continued success.
The new executive board is excited to lead the OCCU into a vibrant future filled with cultural exchange and community engagement. “From the wider student body, we hope for an open-minded and enthusiastic approach to learning from different cultures,” said Jaleel. Students interested in exploring new cultures, building friendships, and contributing to a more inclusive campus are encouraged to join the OCCU’s upcoming meetings and events.
For more information, contact occu@sewanee.edu or follow OCCU on Instagram.