Financial Officer: Chika Okafor (coo@stanford.edu)
Amount Approved: $10,604
Full Budget

What is the mission and purpose of your student group?

The mission of the Stanford African Students Association is to
promote awareness about the African continent and to foster
cultural and social ties with all people of African descent in
and around the Stanford community.

Why are you requesting Special Fees?

The Stanford African Students Association is requesting Special
Fees to support intellectual, cultural, and social events on the
Stanford campus that promote awareness about the African
continent.  These events include: cultural shows, keynote
speakers, soccer tournaments, quiz shows, and open mics.  All
events encourage Stanford students, faculty, and staff from any
cultural background to participate.

What are the three largest line item requests in your budget and why?

The largest line item in the Stanford African Student Association
budget is Africa Week, a week-long celebration that includes: a
Culture Night, a Movie Night, a Soccer Tournament, a
distinguished Keynote Speech, and a series of student panels
confronting controversial issues regarding the African continent
and its people.  This celebration not only introduces the
Stanford community to the cultural diversity within Africa, but
also it empowers the community by challenging it to adopt new
perspectives about Africa.

Another major Stanford African Student Association program is the
BLM Open Mic, also referred to as ""Afrika Unplugged.""  This
annual event brings together dancers, singers, and poets from the
Stanford community and Bay Area for a night of artistic
expression and personal reflection.  Open to performers from any
cultural background, it consistently adds to the growing dialogue
of cross-cultural awareness.

The bi-monthly Stanford African Students Association general body
meetings invite any member of the Stanford community to share in
fostering knowledge about Africa.  From student presentations to
guest speeches by distinguished professors, these meetings serve
both as a forum to increase awareness and as an opportunity to
develop relationships with other Stanford community members.  In
addition, each meeting serves authentic cultural food from a
different region of Africa.

If you applied for Special Fees last year, is there an increase in the
amount you're seeking this year?  If so, why?

There is a slight increase in the amount the Stanford African
Students Association is seeking this year.  This is due to higher
equipment rental costs for our various events.