Ansoya Rani and Samuel Okorie spoke at the recent 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, held March 10–21 at the UN headquarters in New York City.

The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the chief global intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting equal rights and opportunities for all women and girls, and this meeting is the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“My speech was focused on empowering women with climate smart technology in addressing ecological issues,” Sam said. “I spotlighted the critical role of women in addressing ecological issues but most importantly the need to empower women and girls in vulnerable communities to become resilient in the face of climate crises through climate-smart intervention programs and support.”

“We also talked about the application of technology of consciousness through the Transcendental Meditation technique, which offers an enriching experience that can greatly assist in achieving a more balanced and fulfilled life,” Sam said. “We discussed some benefits of Transcendental Meditation in countries like Bangladesh, India, and Uganda. We also shared our personal experiences and initiatives we are leading in our respective countries to empower women.”

“Standing at the United Nations headquarters in New York,” Ansoya said, “representing MIU as the president of the Student Government, was one of the most thrilling and meaningful moments of my journey. At first, I felt a little nervous speaking on such a global stage. Surrounded by leaders and changemakers was both exciting and overwhelming. But before starting my talk, I took five minutes to meditate. That moment of silence, of grounding myself in pure awareness, changed everything. When I opened my eyes, I felt ready not just to speak, but to take over the world.”

Ansoya, originally from Pakistan, is an undergraduate business major with a minor in Enlightened Leadership.

Sam, who came to MIU from Nigeria, has completed an MBA in ERP & Business Analytics and Sustainable Business (double honors) and plans to enroll in the new PhD in Regenerative Organic Agriculture. A veteran participant in global meetings on climate change and sustainability, he is a member of the advisory board of the UNFCCC’s Santiago Network (the UNFCCC is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which crafted the Paris Climate Agreement). Sam was also part of the MIU group that gave presentations at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates held in Monterrey, Mexico, last September, leading the three-person student team.

“Being at the UN headquarters was a fulfilling experience,” Sam said. “The event was both captivating and humbling, especially being able to share the podium with such influential individuals. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with people from diverse tribes, cultures, and ethnicities.”

“As student body president I was also honored to present an award to Arnetta M. Asapokhai, a remarkable woman who is a member of the UN,” Ansoya said. “It was a humbling moment, recognizing her contributions and standing alongside incredible leaders dedicated to making a difference.”

“Standing in a room filled with passionate changemakers, I saw how deeply connected our struggles and solutions are,” Ansoya said. “The energy was electric, and every conversation reaffirmed my belief that giving women access to technology uplifts entire communities. I left feeling more inspired than ever and I hope that one day, Sam and I will bring the UN to MIU, creating a space for global conversations right here.

“I was informed about the event via email from UN Women as well as the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) youth constituency, and I saw it as leverage for MIU,” Sam said. “MIU sponsored our participation, and the event was attended by high-level dignitaries, politicians, founders, and members of the international community. The major outcomes of the event include support for providing women and girls from marginalized communities with gadgets to enhance their tech skills, offering tech education to empower local women, and supporting women-led initiatives that drive technology while making tech accessible for all.”

Reporting by Sam Okorie and Ansoya Rani.

In a remarkable come-from-behind win fueled by two thrilling tie-breaker victories in the singles matches, the MIU tennis team prevailed against a Cornell College squad in the spring season’s first match-up.

MIU fell behind early, losing all three doubles matches. (The doubles matches are one set each, with the team winning at least two of the three receiving one team point, while the singles matches count for one point each, for a total of seven possible points.)

MIU also lost the #1 singles match, with Cuong Do getting outplayed 6-3, 6-0 by a strong opponent.

Then the comeback started.

In the #2 singles match, Thanh Nguyen posted a commanding 6-1, 6-0 win.

The #3 match turned into an extended battle, with MIU student Juan Jose winning the first set, then tightening up and losing the second. But he regained his focus in the third set, closing out the match with a decisive 10-6 victory in the tiebreaker.

Jamil Johnson dominated most of his #4 match, securing a 6-1, 6-4 win despite a second-set rally from his opponent.

In the #5 match, Nicolo Bonasera struggled with his serve and the late afternoon lighting on his court. Although he found his rhythm later in the match, he ultimately fell 6-0, 6-3.

At this point the team score was 3 to 3.

In the sixth and deciding match, Jacob Sanditen found himself in a high-stakes showdown, fighting through long rallies. He won the first set 6-3, then lost the second 3-6. When the third set reached 6-6, it went into a tiebreaker. With the fiercely contested match on the line, Jacob delivered an electrifying 11-9 tiebreak win, securing the crucial fourth point MIU needed for victory.

“Jacob amazed both his teammates and perhaps even himself, overcoming a determined and highly skilled opponent with a brilliant display of focus and composure,” said coach Paul Stokstad.

With that match, MIU found itself in possession of its first team tennis victory since it last fielded a team 20 years ago.

The MIU players celebrated by echoing Cornell’s own chant — “Go Rams!” — in recognition of the hard-fought competition.

Since MIU brought eight players, Cornell graciously added two extra singles matches so that all MIU players could compete, with two Cornell players volunteering to play them, although those matches did not count toward the team total. This enabled MIU’s #7 player, Tarush Bhatia, and #8 player, John Saunders, to compete.

The Cornell players won both of these matches, giving Cornell a total of seven match wins to MIU’s four. But the match scoring system and two razor-thin tiebreak losses ultimately left Cornell short of the overall victory.

“This incredible performance marked a historic milestone for the program,” Stokstad said. “Although Cornell technically won more total matches, MIU’s ability to perform under pressure and capture the most pivotal moments proved decisive. The win came as a testament to the team’s resilience, determination, and ability to rise to the occasion in clutch situations.”

Reporting by Paul Stokstad