Office for Student Involvement

Oakland University Student Congress elects new president, vice president

Adeline Perhogan, Annabella Jankowski plan to emphasize importance of mental and physical health for OU students

icon of a calendarApril 28, 2021

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Oakland University Student Congress elects new president, vice president
Adeline Perhogan & Annabella Jankowski
Adeline Perhogan and Annabella Jankowski are the new president and vice-president of the Oakland University Student Congress. (Photo courtesy Perhogan/Jankowski)

As the new president and vice-president of the Oakland University Student Congress, Adeline Perhogan of St. Clair Shores and Annabella Jankowski of Farmington Hills say they plan to emphasize the importance of mental and physical health for OU students while navigating the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and wellness of OU students have been of the utmost importance to us,” Perhogan said. “We would like to continue promoting physical health by partnering with Oakland University Recreation and Well-Being by providing events and resources to students.

“We also recognize that mental health should be a priority for all students, and we aim to enable this by partnering with the Graham Counseling Center to increase access to mental health resources for students through promoting free counseling sessions and support groups,” she added.

In addition, Perhogan said the OUSC will work to address the financial challenges facing OU students due to the COVID-19 pandemic by contributing to additional relief funding on campus.

“We aim to accomplish this by continuing with the efforts of previous administrations to mitigate the costs of textbooks, by providing scholarships to students and promoting Open Educational Resources (OER) to faculty and staff,” she said.

Perhogan, a fifth-year senior who is majoring in history and secondary education with a concentration in social studies, said she decided to run for office because of her “immense passion and love” for Oakland University.

“I came to OU scared freshman who was living away from home for the first time,” she said. “Through Greek life, Housing, Student Congress, and more, I found a new home. I am honored to be able to serve Oakland and share my love with the student body. I hope my love radiates through the university and the students can see how much I care for them. I genuinely believe that the position of president is one of collaboration and what I accomplish is due to the student body using their voice to create a lasting impact.”

Her passion for OU is shared by Jankowski, an incoming senior who is studying international relations and previously served as vice president of the OUSC with Ethan Bradley as president.

“I decided to run for re-election as vice president because I had a lot of initiatives and ideas I wanted to continue working on to better the Oakland University community,” she said. “I ran because I wanted to continue serving the Oakland University community as we navigate the continuing pandemic.”

According to Perhogan and Jankowski, one of their goals as president and vice president of the OUSC will be to continue the current administration’s efforts to promote transparency between upper administration, faculty, and the student body.

“We have worked on promoting this through involvement in the e-Learning and Instructional Support (e-LIS) committee, and by hosting month Student Concerns Forums that allow for guided conversations between upper administration and students,” Perhogan said. “We are currently planning our first Student Concerns Forum to take place sometime in May or June. We plan to have this forum focused on updated COVID-19 restrictions and what students may expect in the fall.”

Despite the challenges of campaigning during a pandemic, Perhogan and Jankowski said they would encourage other students to get involved on campus, whether it’s through the OUSC or another student organization.

“I have been very involved on campus through the years and I do not regret a minute of it,” Perhogan said. “Where I am academically, professionally, and socially are all credited to my involvement on campus. I would recommend, if you’re nervous, to start small and join a club. There are over 300 clubs on campus, as well as Greek life. There truly is something for everyone. It may take some time for you to figure out what your something is, but I promise it will be worth it in the long run.”

Jankowski also encourages students to check social media for information about open positions on campus, and to apply through Handshake.

“For students pursuing general leadership roles, I would encourage them to explore all of what OU has to offer in terms of student organizations,” she said. “I would also advise students to be flexible and able to adapt in their journeys as student leaders, as sometimes any challenges that may arise may ultimately result in benefits or experience that can help in the future.”

For more information about the Oakland University Student Congress, including opportunities for students to get involved, visit www.oakland.edu/osi/student-organizations/ousc or email [email protected].

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