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Name: Ravi Randhava

Hometown: Evanston, IL

Major(s): International Studies & Spanish [Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences]

RC afflliation: Public Affairs Residential College (Resident '04-'07, Social Chair '05-'06)

Current project /passion:  I'm excited to be serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA at NU's Center for Student Involvement.  I'll be working on strengthening and expanding our community service programs.  

Hobbies : watching movies, kayaking, listening to music, traveling, wilderness medicine

Questions and Answers

Why did you choose Northwestern?

Northwestern is well-known for its academic programs and talented faculty.  But learning extends beyond the classroom here, and that's something that made NU stand out to me.  Just a few examples include volunteer work, Residental Colleges, research, guest speakers, and study abroad opportunities.   And when you are in class, professors push you to make inter-disciplinary connections and explore the relevance of material in today's context.

What is the best thing about being a student at Northwestern?

The people I have met.  I am surrounded by students, staff, faculty and community members who inspire me on a daily basis.  They seem to have unlimited energy.  To use students as an example, friends of mine have started brand new organizations or have dedicated time to coaching basketball, tutoring, raising funds, or working in a lab at the med school.  This is in addition to regular classwork, which could be writing thought-provoking papers, student teaching, or producing a film. There is always somehow time for fun, and the people I have been fortunate enough to meet at NU are incredibly creative and entertaining.  I have no doubt that these are lifelong friendships.

What is your favorite spot on campus?

The 3rd floor of Norris is one of the first places that comes to mind.  It's where some of the student organizations have offices.  For me, the 3rd floor represents the strong sense of community at NU and dedication and passion of students and staff. The fire pit on the lakefill is a close second.  It's right by the water, and the lakefill is a beautiful place to be when it's sunny.  I also have great memories of making s'mores at the fire pit in colder weather for PARC Munchies and Special Olympics.

What's your favorite class? Why?

I've got several -- and they're all in different departments, which speaks to the variety of classes offered.  One class in African-American Studies called Globalization, Eurocentrism, and Black Cosmopolitanism introduced us to tools and frameworks that help us question dominant social theories and historical omissions, particularly the continued impact of colonialism.  I also enjoyed Community Development, and I have heard my Professor's Asset-Based Community Development model cited throughout the country.  Latin American Politics and Latin American Film were equally amazing.

Tell me about your involvement at Northwestern beyond your RC.

I stopped at the Special Olympics booth during the Activities Fair my freshman year, and I have been involved ever since.  Our board organizes daily volunteer opportunities with special recreation agencies, plans on-campus programming, and helps run an annual Track & Field Meet with over 500 athletes.  Being a counselor for the Freshman Urban Program was something I really enjoyed.  FUP uses a service-learning model to explore issues affecting Chicago neighborhoods.  A unique opportunity recently presented itself to continue working with service-learning by co-teahing a Student Organized Seminar on ESL & Bilingual Education.  I was also fortunate to be able to study abroad in Istanbul , Turkey (Summer '07) and in Mexico City (Summer '06) with the help of grants from the Center for International and Comparative Studies and International Programs Development.