“I’m so thankful for y’all. I’m so thankful for y’all,” outgoing Student Union President Nyah Macklin ’17 told the crowd as she took the podium on May 3 for her final State of the Union address, ― a speech that included song, advice and praise for her fellow students.

The night began with an introduction from Student Union Director of Programming Adriana Gleaton ’17, who thanked the Union Executive Board and the Brandeis community. She then recognized Macklin, saying, “You are the sunshine we are chasing; you are the end of the rainbow. You are amazing.”

Brian Dorfman ’16, the outgoing chief justice of the Student Union Judiciary, then spoke briefly, giving an overview of the past year. He noted that there was some ambiguity about the role of the Judiciary but that the branch serves to “ensure that anyone who needs justice receives it.” He added that the Judiciary’s role was better outlined under a recent amendment passed by the student body and that the Judiciary will begin sitting in on meetings in the other branches of the Student Union to ensure that the it is functioning as it should.

Nicole Lenchner ’16, the outgoing Union Treasurer, then took the podium to summarize recent changes in the Allocations Board and the club funding process. She noted that these changes include a wider use of procurement cards, an overhaul of the A-Board makeup and a revamped marathon funding process.

Executive Senator Paul Sindberg ’18 then discussed recent achievements and goals for the Student Union Senate. He mentioned the Senate’s recognizing and chartering of 24 clubs this year, its organizing of the annual Turkey Shuttle and its opening of a dialogue with graduate student organizations as accomplishments. He also mentioned his wish to promote diversity and dialogue in the Union as goals for the future.

Alex Feldman ’19, the A-Board chairperson, next took the podium to give an overview of A-Board’s accomplishments and plans for the coming year. “I’m so proud that the Union puts its money where its mouth is,” he said, noting that over 160 clubs were funded this year through the allocations process. He added that the recent A-Board amendment holds the organization more accountable to the students it serves. Sindberg then briefly addressed the audience once more to present club and individual senator awards from the Senate.

Incoming Student Union President David Herbstritt ’17 next addressed the audience, announcing his nominees for his Executive Board — Chief of Staff Jackson Tuck ’17, Director of Communications Max Byer ’19, Director of Academic Involvement Jacob Edelman ’18 and Director of Community Engagement Gleaton. Herbstritt then spoke about his hopes and goals for the upcoming academic year, noting that after two “truly powerful” semesters, he wishes to continue pushing for “diversity and inclusion, environmental awareness and sexual assault prevention,” as well as more dialogue with administrators and students. He also stressed the importance of a Union that serves the student body, explaining, “We have to give back double what the community gives us. Otherwise, we have not done our jobs.”

Kariyana Calloway ’19 then performed Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” as an introduction to Macklin’s address, noting that the song had helped her through the year, just as Macklin had. Lashawn Simmons ’18 also introduced Macklin, recalling how excited she was when she realized, in 2015, that the then-president-elect was a black woman, also praising Macklin for her accessibility and thoughtfulness.

Macklin began her address with a moment of silence for community members who had passed away in the last year, followed by a tearful rendition of “Goodbye,” accompanied by Reno Kersey ’17 on the guitar. “We have done it. We are here. We are loving. We are in community,” she said in her speech. “We have been through it all.”

She thanked predecessor Sneha Walia ’15, saying, “You have taught me that this work has value, even when I feel like I’m fighting a war alone. You have taught me to keep going, even when I am beaten down. ”

Drawing heavily upon her experiences in Ford Hall 2015 and as a black woman on campus, Macklin also explained her vision of a safer community for all students, especially marginalized groups. “Now y’all might be thinking, ‘What’s Nyah doing? She’s talking about race too damn much and Ford Hall too damn much.’ … Well I say to that, ‘Somebody — anybody — sing a black girl’s song.’”

“Y’all, we can’t separate them: black womanhood and power are and will always stay synonymous,” she added, urging the inclusion of people of color and LGBT individuals in important conversations about the community. “We need to redefine who has access to power and who has access to change,” she emphasized.

Concluding her address by recognizing the Union’s achievements from the past year and thanking the individuals who helped make them possible, Macklin ended the night — and her tenure as president — by swearing in the new members of the Student Union.