The 51st CSUN term has ended and former student body leaders President Caren Royce Yap and Vice President Abe Lugo reflect on their time in office. While their terms during the COVID-19 pandemic were unlike any other, they worked to enrich the student experience and bring students safely back to campus. They were able to provide resources including free covid tests and New York Times subscriptions to stay current with the news.
Lugo was even recognized by the United Nations for his virtual campaign “United After.” Learning how COVID-19 affected certain communities motivated him to create this campaign to build a new era of compassion and give a voice to those in diverse circumstances.
Now the duo is stepping back and sharing their best memories of the successful term.
Caren Royce Yap
51st Student Body President
Can you highlight some of your favorite projects and accomplishments as an individual and as a team?
I have absolutely loved helping to bring UNLV back in-person safely along with my executive team. My personal favorite project has been Presidents' Advisory Councils, as we were able to connect hundreds of student organizations with both CSUN and one another.
What are your plans now that your term is over?
Now that the year has come to a close, I'm off studying abroad in Italy this summer followed by my Public Policy and International Affairs fellowship at the University of Minnesota addressing the lack of diversity across public service sectors! Then, I'll be living it up in Washington D.C. working for AAPI communities along with working for Nevada Assemblywoman Brittney Miller during the 2023 Legislative Session. I'm graduating in spring 2023 with a double major, double minor, and honors — woohoo!
What is your professional end goal?
After pursuing graduate school, I hope to end up advocating for education (especially higher education), the AAPI community, and climate change using public policy. Ultimately, my professional end goal isn't necessarily a position or place, but just a person hoping to contribute to the greater good!
What was the biggest thing you learned during your term?
Going the extra mile, whether it's for your people, your peers, your campus or your community, is always worth it.
Can you also give a short quote about your time as the student body president?
Show grace to all, to those who understand you, to those who can't fathom trying, to those who know you, and to those you soon will, but above all, especially to yourself.
Abe Lugo
51st Student Body Vice President
Can you highlight some of your favorite projects and accomplishments as an individual and as a team?
My favorite accomplishments are definitely based on successful connections. We were able to build bridges between our student government and others across the country, but more than anything our relationship with our sister student government up north [at UNR]. I loved working with National Pan-Hellenic Council to start up their plaza project, along with managing my beautiful executive branch. There was nothing better than working with so many talented individuals.
What are your plans now that your term is over?
I will continue my work in community organizing with Make the Road Nevada for the summer until August, when I will be pursuing my dream of moving to New York City. There, I plan on working in advocacy, politics, and policy, dedicating a year off to work! After the year, I will be working towards a master's degree in government and politics with a concentration in public policy and administration; with a certification in law and diplomacy.
What is your professional end goal?
I’ve always said I wanted to run for office, which still holds very true. I want to begin on the local and municipal level, probably starting off on a New York Board of Education and slowly progress up from there. However, as I do so, I want to continue my efforts in community-based work, whether it be organizing, policy writing, and/or government relations. My work in anti-racism and peace-building will always be my priority.
What was the biggest thing you learned during your term?
Just as actions speak louder than words, love is stronger than hate.
Can you also give a short quote about your time as the student body president?
Do not hear, listen. Do not talk over, amplify. Do not react, for your work and your passion will speak volumes louder than the voices of those who try to minimize you. Love what you do even when the times come where you are so brutally drained and feel you cannot continue. Persevere. Use the doubt others have of you as fuel for change. Fuel for good change. Fuel for progress.
