Pakistan Students' Associations (PSAs) on many campuses across America have developed reputations for being social clubs at best or non-existent at worst. Often, this organization which is supposed to represent Pakistani students on campus has a presence on paper but no activities to show for its existence. Or, it's known for organizing once or twice a year dance parties or social events with the Indian club on campus and nothing else the rest of the school year.

You can help change the direction of the PSA for the better. You can work to encourage students and more importantly, the group's executive body, to use the organization as a platform for establishing worthy projects that can help Pakistanis here and abroad, as well as educate others about Pakistan and its history.

If you've kept an arm's length from your college's PSA, it's time to talk to the executives who are in charge this school year. But before you go, you'll need to carefully plan your strategy. You've got to think about how to convince the executives that there is much more they should be doing than organizing social activities. You'll have to explain that
Pakistani-American students in the organization have a duty, given our knowledge, wealth and commitment to Pakistan to educate others about Pakistan and mobilize Pakistani-Americans here to help their brothers and sisters abroad in a concrete way.

In addition, outline three projects that you feel the PSA should focus on during the year. For example, you can suggest raising money for a school in Pakistan; educating students and faculty on campus about Pakistani history during the week of March 23 and translating health information into Urdu to be sent abroad.

Work out all of the details: what's exactly is involved in each project, approximately how much it will cost to make the idea a reality and precisely how the PSA can use its members and its budget to make it happen.

Once you have all of this information, arrange a meeting with the PSA's executive. Tell them beforehand that you want to discuss the state of the PSA and some ideas you have for the coming year.

If they do meet with you, be polite. Don't attack them for past PSA errors. Just be straightforward, present your ideas and discuss their feasibility. If they agree to take you up on at least one project, roll up your sleeves and begin working with them.

However, if after repeated efforts and follow-ups, they do not follow through on their word and nothing changes in the PSA's agenda or the type of activities they organize, don't be afraid to establish your own organization. Of course, you'll upset the PSA's executive board, but you'll probably attract a lot of Pakistani-Americans who are disgusted with the organization and are really interested in helping you out.

Since you're starting out from scratch in this scenario, begin with an easy project. Why not arrange for a weekly discussion about some aspect of Pakistan on campus and for a bigger project, an exhibition on campus during the week of March 23 to share Pakistan's history and establishment?

Most student groups on campus receive a certain budget at the beginning of the year. It depends on a number of things, including track record of activities during previous years and how many students of that particular group are represented on campus. You may find yourself short of funds to organize your activities the first year you decide to establish your group.

In that case, you need to do two things. First, access as much free material and equipment to make the event you organize happen. This should not be too difficult since most colleges offer students a number of free services like equipment and room rental.

Second, see if you can get funding from sources outside of the campus. Make sure that you stay within school guidelines though, since some schools may not allow groups to receive funding outside of the institution.

A third option is to work with other student groups that have a bigger budget on common activities. For instance, during the International Day For the Elimination of Racism in March, you can get together with an anti-racism group on campus. While they focus on general racism and discrimination, you can have an exhibit and talk about this topic from a Pakistani-American perspective.

What's important to remember is that your events need to properly organized, consistent and well advertised. What you want to do is engage Pakistani-Americans on campus in useful projects that will benefit them personally while helping others in America or abroad. You also want to educate fellow students who are not Pakistani about the country's history, heritage, culture and more.

For the first year of this new group's establishment, you will be the pivot for volunteers. Since you started the organization, you will be looked towards for leadership and guidelines, which means a hefty time commitment. While you should definitely be on top of things and follow up on all projects, you should also start delegating responsibilities to others in your core of volunteers. Not only will this free up your own time for taking care of your obligations (i.e. Your family, passing your courses), but it will also put in place a group of people that can continue the organization's work if you have to drop out of the picture.

If you've churned out a consistent set of activities that are well-planned and executed, the following year, you will most likely get much more support in terms of funding as well as volunteers. Then you can plan more events that are in line with your goal.

Finally, it's important to remember that PSA executives come and go. If, next year, the people in charge are more open to you and your ideas, don't hesitate to work with them. But be clear about your and your group's terms and conditions. Don't feel you have to merge your group with the PSA. Instead, keep the two organizations separate but working together in mutually beneficial activities that are in line with the PSA's original mandate and your group's goal.

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:48:13 PM

Readers' Comment

Imran: 11/1/2005 9:33:23 AM
Salam, Your article is good; however, it seems to create a divide between the officers and volunteers. If a volunteer doesn't like the activities of the board, you suggest creating a new organization. This divides the pakistani community on campus. This can also lead to many psa's with different objectives (helping orphans, helping education in pakistan, pakistan awareness, social event, etc.) I know it sounds corny, but we all should learn to work together under one banner. Well, that's my two cents. Salam.

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