General Information:

SAAN stands for "South Asian Awareness Network". It is a student organization at the University of Michigan that was formed by the co-operative efforts of the Indian American Student Association (IASA) and the South Asian Student Council (SASC) at the University. Now in its third year, SAAN is a completely independent organization with close ties to the Indian American Student Association, the Pakistani Students Association, and other South Asian groups on campus.

SAAN's primary function is to establish an annual South Asian conference for South Asian and non-South Asian students alike. SAAN 2005: Progression Beyond Perceptions will be the third annual holding of this conference, and we hope to continue setting a precedent that all future SAAN conferences will follow.

SAAN's broad goals include: educating participants and raising awareness about issues affecting South Asians that are often overlooked or not discussed, inspiring young South Asians to become leaders through activism, building pride, unity, and friendship among students in order to promote South Asian awareness, addressing the educational needs and rights of South Asian Americans, maintaining a network of South Asians in Michigan, the Midwest, and across the nation, sponsoring and co-sponsoring programs and events with other South Asian organizations and promoting peace, unity, and tolerance at a young age to South Asians.

Conference Vision:

Our vision is to expose and challenge the notions of individuality in order to foster a cohesive South Asian community and motivate thought and action

Mission Statement:

The mission of the conference is one that promotes cultural awareness and cultural activism within the South Asian community.

As first generation South Asian Americans, the future of our community in this country is contingent upon how our members respond to problems facing our culture. SAAN is unique in that it is the only conference of its kind that addresses these issues and focuses on the role of South Asians in America. By inviting successful South Asians from a diverse collection of career fields, we hope to inspire young South Asians and encourage them to take an immediate active role in their community and develop the skills necessary to become leaders in the future.

Location:

Rich in a tradition of academic excellence, the University of Michigan is consistently ranked at the undergraduate and graduate levels as one of the nations top public institutions by U.S. News and World Reports. Our world-renowned faculty places no limits on learning and is committed to encouraging the same in our students. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is a campus of 36,000 students. Over 85% of Michigan’s entering undergraduate students were in the top 20% of their high school class; 66% in the top 10%. There are more University of Michigan alumni in the world than alumni from any other institution.

The University of Michigan has recently been in the national spotlight, defending its commitment to affirmative action in front of the Supreme Court. Preparing students to work and live in a multicultural world is illustrative of the University of Michigan’s role as a global institution. Students-of-color currently comprise 25% of the student body, which places Michigan among the most diverse of all competitive public institutions in the country. Additionally, Michigan students represent over 100 countries and all 50 states.

Michigan students value co-curricular involvement and community service. Students may choose to be involved in over 600 student organizations ranging from student government to academic-oriented groups, social clubs, leadership development activities, national professional associations, alternative spring break programs, and many more. Inside and outside the classroom, students develop problem solving, communication, analytical, research, management, and ethical decision-making skills.

The academic foundation of a premier education combined with opportunities to practice leadership and team-oriented participation within a diverse community results in a corps of goal-oriented, imaginative team leaders possessing the range of skills valuable in today’s dynamic workplace.