As Student Association president, Dela Yador landed Kanye West for one of the most successful Fall Fests ever, he helped push for an online syllabi program that's becoming a standard, and now he's working to create a new unity between students and UB's administration.
To do all that, Yador has built upon lessons he learned from his parents as one of six children, an experience helped prepare him to run the large family that is SA.
"At home my parents always try to instill values and respect, which is the most important thing," said Yador, whose family is originally from Ghana, though was born and raised in the Bronx.
As February is Black History Month, it is not lost on Yador what his SA presidency means in UB's own history. Though he is not the first black president to run the undergraduate student government, he is the first black male to do so.
His ability to succeed, Yador said, is built on those struggles that came before him.
"I think everyone has their story," he said.
In his fifth year at UB, his fourth in SA, the 22-year-old Yador finds himself as SA president, but also as a senior communication major just looking forward to graduation. As well as being an African American studies minor, Yador is a member of Black Student Union and Poder. One of two middle siblings, he is the only boy in his family. His parents divorced when he was in high school and although at first he lived with his mother, a nurse in the Bronx, he now lives with his father, who works for corrections in Harlem.
Each year, there seems to be some controversy over Black History Month, and lately that controversy has come from Morgan Freeman, who said the idea should be abolished. Freeman's reason for feeling that way was that the creator of Black History Month only meant to have it exist until black history became a part of American History.
"In a perfect world that would make sense," Yador said.
"It's not as easy said as done," he added.
The recent passing of Coretta Scott King, who died on Jan. 31, raised awareness around the nation for the current state of African American rights. Yador said her death was not just the death of an African American rights movement leader, but the death of a leader of society who has worked her whole life for equal rights for all people.
"I think her work, what she's done for society, not just African Americans, is priceless," Yador said. He said that right now is "just a good time to reflect."
That reflection places many in a position to review many of the efforts meant to level the playing field for minorities. Yador said it might be time for programs such as affirmative action to be re-evaluated.
"I don't feel anyone should be given special privileges because of their skin color or where they are from," he said. "But society isn't as accepting and as open to giving different people opportunities as it should be."
Yador explained that he sees affirmative action as necessary for now, but that racism is still enough of an issue to be worried about.
"It's still around. You don't want to dwell on it," Yador said.
Yador said he would rather people worked hard and strive, appreciating their leaders and continuing to strive for equality rather than dwell on racism to the point where it stops people from moving forward.
With UB's minority population between 11 and 12 percent, being a black candidate for SA's top job was not part of the ticket Yador ran on to get into office, so he would rather not be thought of as just a minority.
"I try not to look at it as me being just a black president," he said.
At the same time he said, "I'm honored to be in this position. I hope this motivates other students of color to work hard as well."
