On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Aleshire Leadership Center at Washburn University hosted a special event, ‘How to be an Ally?’ in the Vogel Room on the second floor of Memorial Union. This event was planned over the summer of 2025, with preparations starting early to ensure that the event ran smoothly. 

Wendo Kimori, a sophomore Aleshire member, informed that this event was vital, as it helped teach about allyship in modern times and mentioned its importance to the Washburn community.

“I hope that they will recognize that we all have biases. It’s essential to learn how to challenge and combat those now before we get into the workforce. Moreover, I think that after college, just doing whatever and encountering people is the perfect training ground to learn how to be aware and conscious of others,” Kimori said.

Leilani Grey, the director of Admissions, Diversity, and Social Responsibility, attended the event as the guest speaker and emphasized the importance of such events.

“It’s the student center that invited me to speak based on their interest in allyship,” Grey said. “Well, I know these are our future leaders, so it’s really important to help them know what it’s like in practice and in a little context.”

At the event, when it came to practicing allyship, the event itself provided visitors with opportunities to practice allyship in various ways. For one, attendees were encouraged to inclusively introduce themselves in the room to create an environment where everyone felt like they belonged. 

Next, attendees were divided into groups of four and received a piece of paper containing a script. The attendees then acted out the scenario based on the script, which taught them more about what it means to be an ally in a real-world situation. The Aleshire team wanted to make the event space feel like a space for attendees to feel free to speak their mind without fear of judgment. 

Nathan Simpson, a freshman political science and communication major, shared his experience of the event.

“It was very, very interesting,” Simpson said. “I got to meet a very, very interesting person who works on a lot of non-profit organizations.” 

Overall, Aleshire created the ‘How to be an Ally’ event to teach Washburn students about Allyship and what it can look like for them after college, whilst creating a space where students can open up without the fear of being judged or rejected. Within the storm of constant tests and assignments, students in the Vogel room during this event managed to find a community with each other that could transcend beyond life after college, based on what they learned about how to be an ally.

Edited by Arohi Rai and Stuti Khadka