By Sofia Sharova
Once upon a time, a little student club originated at an international university in Madrid. They might have appeared small, but their dreams were big. This is the story of the CIS University Student Leadership Council (SLC), led by our well-known professor, Anthony Verrecchio.
If you ever met Anthony or had the opportunity to take his class, you certainly know that he is extremely passionate about Human Rights. This enthusiasm and ardor drove him to create the Student Leadership Council. The basic notion is “to involve our students more with initiatives that will target our local community and in something that involves international cooperation”, according to the Human Rights professor.
As we all know, there is always an abundance of problems regarding Human Rights, and there are countless chances to pitch in for a better world.
“There’s a lot of issues that we share throughout much of Europe, especially Southern Europe, including Italy, Spain, Greece, and we do have RFK Human Rights teams in those countries, among others”, Verrecchio stated. He also mentioned that they have their versions of the Student Leadership Council that are quite similar to the one that we have at CIS University and it presents an opportunity to collaborate with them, albeit only remotely for now.
The Council aims to connect and work with teams from other countries, like Italy and Greece, and achieve something together. Cross-border cooperation is on the horizon for the SLC. Verrecchio is already working behind the scenes on it with the neighboring nations, at least on the administrative side of things.
Furthermore, although it is not guaranteed yet, there is a fairly real possibility of requesting EU funding for the initiatives that the club will contrive or to finance getting the message out, says Professor Verrecchio.
From a more philosophical standpoint, the Human Rights professor observes that we learn a lot more by going out there and when we are just experiencing, interacting, and contemplating. While aiding with social and ecological issues, students are not only learning to see and identify the issues themselves, but becoming more empathetic, understanding, and caring, as well.
Frequently, one might possess the drive, motivation, and desire to assist others; however, they may not have resources or knowledge concerning the way of approaching the matter. That is where the new club comes into play with a simple, yet very powerful concept: “To get students who already want to be involved and give them a way that they can be involved”, explained the head of the SLC.
The main objective, according to Anthony Verrecchio, is “to show you that you can change stuff when you gather together and get organized. You get focused and passionate, and you get creative”.
The students who participate in the Council also share this vision. A member of the Student Leadership Council, Ekaterina Panferova, remarks that “the Student Leadership Council has a true potential of actually bringing change”. Another student, Nova Schaapherder, secretary of the Council, agrees: “It gives a voice and a statement to students: We can have a direct impact on the social and environmental atmosphere around us.”
