Vivian Tadros, a first-generation NIU Law student and Middle Eastern Woman, founded the Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association (MENALSA) last semester. When asked what inspired her to start the organization, the second-year law student stated, “During my first year of law school, I yearned for guidance to help me navigate my legal career. Because of that, I have personally felt how much of a drastic difference it made for me to finally have attorney mentors that are also from the MENA region through becoming a law student member of the Arab American Bar Association. Now that I have the immense support from the AABAR and NIU Law, I can effectively execute my mission to diversify Chicago’s legal field and give the current and incoming MENA law students at NIU a positive law school experience through MENALSA.”
The main goal of the organization is to help first-generation future attorneys find opportunities and a community. Vivian emphasized that MENALSA is open to everyone, not just those with a MENA background. “Each of our member’s individual desires is to not only grow the MENA population but to also diversify the legal field in any way possible which will make us, as a whole, successful. The types of members that we are looking for are those who want their voices heard and who want to serve the community. We want to attract people whose goals align with ours – anyone is welcome!”
As the founder of both MENALSA and the Tort Law Society, Vivian is a member of more than four different societies/organizations at NIU. She has found that being a part of different societies and organizations allows her and all members a better opportunity to represent themselves. For MENALSA, Vivian was able to enlist the help of her friends who are also highly active in multiple organizations so they can better represent themselves. MENALSA Vice President Batoul Haidar reconstituted the Muslim Law Student Association, is the secretary for the Student Bar Association, and the treasurer of the Women’s Law Caucus. MENALSA Secretary Kashif Ahmed is also a representative for the Student Bar Association and the Tort Law Society. MENALSA Social Chair Rabia Amin is the Chief of Staff for the Student Bar Association and representative of the Women’s Law Caucus. Finally, MENALSA Treasurer Mohammed Kazoun is also on the board for the Muslim Law Students Association and the Tort Law Society. Vivian best described her executive board as, small but mighty.
Looking into the future, Vivian believes that change begins within our own home at NIU. MENA will hopefully attract MENA students into attending NIU because they will be able to see that the school has organizations such as MENALSA. Knowing that the students would have a community similar to their own within the law school, Vivian hopes to show them what great opportunities NIU has available.
“NIU Law is a school that I wish more Arab students knew about and attended because it provides educational accessibility for those from marginalized communities in a way that many schools all over the U.S. fall short in. NIU gives their graduate students the opportunity to graduate tuition-free through their graduate assistantships, they have big school resources within a small school-style classroom, and we are a short hour away from Chicago. I don’t want first-generation students to think that a legal education is something that they cannot attain because of financial situations, not even knowing where to start, or a belief that they will lack opportunities from not living within the city of Chicago.”
Over the next year, MENALSA plans to create more opportunities for its members and to grow its community. They are looking to partner with the undocumented student’s office at NIU to help create a scholarship for diverse students that are interested in pursuing a career in Law. They also plan to partner with other law school student organizations to co-host events and programs. In addition, they would like to set up a networking event for the Illinois MENA law students in the Chicago-Land area, which would include a Mentor-Mentee program to help guide the MENA students. A larger goal that MENALSA looks to eventually achieve is opening an Arab American Cultural Center with NIU, which would not only attract a larger Middle Eastern and North African audience but also further solidify the community already present.
