Oromia Student Union

Mission

The mission of the Oromia Student Union is to promote education in our community and to create a transitional bridge for Oromo students from high school to college. We are also dedicated to educating the communities we reside in about the history and culture of the Oromo people. Oromia student Union is also devoted to upholding the Oromo struggle through educational excellence. We serve our community by providing access to University resources.

What We Do

African Night 2007 Cultural Dance

We organize yearly conferences to bring Oromo students together from various institutions to share their experiences in higher education. We reach out to our community by providing Mentorship and Tutorship programs to students in elementary and secondary schools. We also closely work with other established organizations that work towards development of Oromo identity and the growth of Oromo communities.

OSU organizes Basic Health Education in the community once or twice a year. Volunteering is one of the biggest themes that defines our organization. We mentor youth in our community to promote education in our community. Most importantly, we organize College fairs for Oromo high school students as well as a career day for college students. We work with Oromo scholars and Political leaders to educate our Oromo students on issues that affect us as Oromos.

History of OSU

OSU at Paint the Bridge

We, the Oromia Student Union (OSU), have been part of this great University since 1980. The group was started by Mr. Daniel Namarra, who was a civil engineering student, and two of his international student classmates. Mr.Namarra, who left Ethiopia long ago, immigrated to Europe and eventually to Minnesota where he established the Oromo Relief Association of North America (ORANA) in 1980. Mr. Namarra believed it was the best way to educate people about his background and the history of his people. It was also a way to empower his fellow students who were left behind after the government cracked down on their student group in Ethiopia. He was one of many talented Oromo students who dared to advocate for equality and justice under an oppressive Ethiopian government. Mr. Namarra graduated from the U of M, worked overseas for the United Nations, and now lives happily in Brooklyn Park with his family. The idea he left behind in 1981 was restarted in 1996, but under the new name: Oromo Student Association (OSA). For the first time, there were enough Oromo students to register as a student organization at the U of M. Since that time, more Oromo students have joined the U of M community, and there are about 100 students in our organization today. In 2003, OSA was renamed Oromia Student Union (OSU) in order to create an umbrella student organization that incorporates students throughout all Minnesota Colleges and Universities. We are continuing to grow thanks to the U of M and our new Minnesota home.

Future Goals

Founder Daniel Namarra with current President Gada Beshir and newly elected president Adam Taddese

Establish stronger connections with Oromo students in other colleges and universities around the nation
Increase the number of Oromo students pursuing higher education
Establish a connection with students in Oromia
Help create Oromo Student Associations at various high schools
...among other goals.

History of the Oromo People

The Oromo people make up a significant portion of the population occupying the horn of Africa. In the Ethiopian Empire, the Oromo constitute about 42 million of the total 75 million inhabitants. Although the Oromo nation is one of the largest in Africa, it is still unknown to the majority of the world today. The Oromo people were colonized during the last quarter of the 19th century by Abyssinia, a black African nation, - with the help from European colonial powers of the day. During the same period the Somalis, Kenyans, Sudanese, and others were colonized by European powers. The fact that the Oromos were colonized by a black African nation makes their case special and difficult for the world to understand.

Contact Information

For more Information
Please contact Oromia Student Union,
Email us at: OSU@umn.edu.

Write us at:
Oromia Student Union. P.O.Box 14471. Minneapolis,MN 55414

President: Gada Beshir (besh0009@umn.edu)
V. P: Lense Solomon (solo0080@umn.edu)

For more information on Oromos:
www.gadaa.com
www.oromia.com
www.oromoliberationfront.org

OROMIA STUDENT UNION (OSU) 1980-present