When most students think of Vishal Reddy and Juilana Ritter, they see the fearless student leaders of the Campus Y: UNC’s Center for Social Justice & Innovation. As co-presidents, the two serve as heads of the Campus Y Cabinet, which is made up of the Campus Y Executive Board and the co-chairs of 30 different subcommittees. As elected representatives, the co-presidents ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. Ultimately, they channel the privilege of their position into a platform to advocate for social issues.
I spend quite a bit of time with these two since I serve as the Director of Communications for the Campus Y Executive Board. Even though our relationships are rather professional because we spend lots of time advocating, brainstorming and planning, I have come to see Juliana and Vishal as a pair worthy of the title: “Campus Cuties.”
HC: What is it like working with Vishal?
JR: Working with Vishal hardly feels like work–he always turns music on, tells a couple jokes, farts a lil’ bit, and we always find a way to agree with each other. Even though our opinions may differ at times, I’m so grateful for the fact that we both have strong stances on issues and I would say the same about our Exec board.
HC: What is it like working with Juliana?
VR: Aside from her noxious body odor (it’s like a mix of rotten onions + three-day-old garbage from her absolute refusal to shower), Juliana is an absolute blast to work with. We have different perspectives on issues, which allows to intellectually challenge one another…But because I will never ever question her commitment to these issues, it allows me to always see where she’s coming from.
HC: What makes the other “cute?”
VR: I dunno where Juliana finds time to develop her artsy side…SHE’S IN A BAND AND CAN DO CERAMICS/POTTERY AND IS AN EXPERT CRAFTER! Also, Juliana’s lipstick game is strong.
JR: I don’t know how people from HYPE do it who have to witness this all the time, but the cutest Vishal moment was when he was teaching Cecilia Polanco’s cousin how to use the megaphone and be a part of our Fall Retreat. Vishal+kids=cutest thing ever.
HC: What are the not so “cute” issues on campus you hope to tackle?
VR: Big goals for me: Implementing co-curricular classes for Campus Y members/leaders so they can really delve into their work. Engaging with Student Stores privatization, building Board of Governors transparency, and contextualization of buildings on this campus, particularly through the development of classes for first-year students.
JR: The not so “cute” issue on this campus is centuries long and still vibrant today: the racism that this university’s constituencies perpetuate, whether it be from erasing Black women’s existence by choosing “Carolina Hall” or by not having any Black practitioners at Student Health services.
HC: What do you love most about your position within the Y?
VR: Sounds cheesy as hell, but it’s allowed me to meet A LOT of great people and friends. Also, it’s allowed me to engage with and see social justice in so many different ways, whether it’s direct service or activism, local work or global work. This exposure has shown me the necessity for the diversity in approaches and mindsets needed to effect social change on a systemic level.
JR: I don’t think there are any organizations on campus like the Y that allow students to truly be the leaders. The staff at the Y is incredible in that they value our thoughts in the future direction of the Y and give us equal say in how things are done. I appreciate the surprisingly small amount of bureaucracy in the Y when it comes to making changes.
Juliana Ritter is a junior from Chapel Hill, NC studying geography. Vishal Reddy is a senior from Cleveland, OH studying anthropology.