Elizabeth Mantush | staff writer

Mwango Kasuba is no stranger to student government.

Kasuba attended Baldwin High School, and before entering his freshman year, he received an email from the principal.

“She said that I would be a great candidate [for student government]. At that moment I had no idea why, I didn’t feel like I was anything super special,” he said.

He was the sophomore class secretary, and his senior year he was elected class president. His freshman year he ran and lost the election for president, but he was still involved all four years.

On March 19, Kasuba, a sophomore social studies education and history major, won the SGA election at Duquesne, becoming the next student body president alongside the rest of the members within the Culture Party.

“I was relieved more than anything, knowing that one of the hardest parts of the whole thing is over,” he said.

He said his experience in different positions throughout high school prepared him for his role at Duquesne.

“There’s going to be so many different types of people that you come across, and everyone’s going to have their own opinion … find ways to work together, keep everything civil and have everyone on the same mindset,” he said.

When elected as president in high school, Kasuba had a $1,000 budget shortfall. He was forced to strategize how to make that money back.

He said they negotiated a discount with Sarris Candies and sold chocolates, held powder puff games and hosted smaller events like “duct tape the principal,” where students duct taped the principal to a wall.

Through fundraising, Kasuba raised about $30,000.

He said the money was used for events like an end of the year field day and senior cookout. A portion of the money was donated to the AHN Cancer Institute, and to a Baldwin teacher going through cancer treatment.

He said his success in student government showed him that when a community works together, great things can happen.

“I know a lot of the underclassman can look up to you when you’re a senior, so being a role model to them and showing them, you could really make an impact in your class if you’re involved,” Kasuba said.

KC Okoye, Kasuba’s best friend since the seventh grade, said he has watched Kasuba grow from a timid kid into the person he is now.

Okoye said that playing football with Kasuba showed that he had a “special” work ethic.

“He wasn’t that good at football, but he got up every day and practiced. And that was something not all of us did. I wasn’t practicing every day, I wasn’t that good, but he wanted to get better. And with that, he did get better,” he said.

Kasuba said he has always been a fan of cartoons, and as a kid watching shows like “Power Rangers” pushed him to become someone who can make a difference.

“When you have the mindset that you can achieve anything, no matter what it is or where that avenue may be, I think you wake up everyday knowing that no matter what, you’ll be willing to achieve that dream,” he said.

Dakari Dennis first met Kasuba when he was looking for a roommate his freshman year at Duquesne.

He said that Kasuba was genuine from the start, and he never felt uncomfortable being himself around him.

Dennis and Kasuba work together as managers on the Duquesne women’s basketball team. He said over time they have developed a running joke between the two.

“He’s always doing something, like just out and about, whether it’s networking events, social events, community service, he’s always doing something to make himself more complete as a person,” he said.

Dennis said it was only a matter of time before Kasuba’s goal of becoming president came to fruition.

“I was extremely proud and happy for him, almost like, when you teach your kid how to ride a bike. Granted, I don’t have a kid, so I don’t know exactly how they may feel, but I was overly ecstatic,” Dennis said.

Elizabeth Mantush can be reached at mantushe@duq.edu