Yousif Ibrahim, the 2023-24 Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU) president, wants to improve the student experience by focusing on in-person events, classes and spaces on campus.
“My first goal is about the inclusion of all students,” Ibrahim said. “I want to make sure they know who we (ASPSU) are and get our name out there so we can represent them.”
Ibrahim is a third-year pre-law student studying international policy and political science. His family moved to the United States from Sudan in 1999 as refugees. Witnessing the struggle of his community inspired his path in higher education, as Ibrahim looks for ways to make real change for immigrants seeking refuge in the U.S.
Last year, Ibrahim worked for an immigration attorney which he said only deepened his motivation.
“I saw the change he was making in front of me,” he said. “And I thought, that's what I want to do.”
Photo by Jeremy ChunAt Portland State, Ibrahim wants to take student concerns and work them into policy changes that students can feel.
“We derived most of our policies just from students messaging us on social media,” he said.
Students expressed concern about limited hours at the Cultural Resource Centers, access to the food pantry and the high cost of parking on campus, among other things.
Ibrahim said ASPSU has already started on one of these requests: shifting the Cultural Resource Centers hours two hours later so students can better use the spaces in-between class times.
Monthly events are also front of mind for Ibrahim. Campus events create opportunities for students to voice concerns, but also foster community building and raise awareness about ASPSU.
Mirroring PSU President Ann Cudd’s desire to bring students back to campus, Ibrahim wants to ensure first-year students are on campus and taking classes in person, “so they can experience student life,” he said.
“Being in person, they can get to know the campus and know the university they go to,” he said.
Ibrahim can be reached at yousif5@pdx.edu or on Instagram @aspsupdx.