Salwan Tobia, the host of Voice of Future, welcomed Sunny Reddy, a candidate for the Board of Directors at Wayne State University. Sunny shared his vision for the university and his future plans to address the key issues affecting the Wayne State Community.
Presenter: Today, we have a meeting with the candidate Sunny Reddy and Mr. Salwan Tobia, of course we welcome Mr. Sunny, welcome Mr. Sunny.
Sal: Good evening everyone, thank you for tuning in to Voice of the Future, I’m your host for today, Salwan Tobia. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Sunny Reddy, candidate for the Board of Directors at Wayne State University.
We will be discussing Sunny’s vision for the university, their plans for the future, and how they aim to address key issues affecting the Wayne State community. Welcome to the show, Sunny.
Sunny: Thank you.
Sal: We are thrilled to have you here. To start, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself, introduce yourself, tell us about the position that you’re seeking as a Board of Directors for Wayne State.
Sunny: Sure, first of all, hello everybody and salaam alaikum.
A little bit about myself, I graduated from Wayne State, I’ve been living in Michigan for 35 years. Education is my passion. That’s how I was raised, and I came here as a student, so I have a lot of ideas for Wayne State.
One of them is affordability, I’ve gone through so many issues while I was in Wayne State.
Sal: So you experienced the university firsthand?
Sunny: I was a student, and I’ve gone through all the troubles that today’s students are going through. I can feel firsthand, and I’m confident that I can help with my background and everything.
Sal: And that’s very important, to have someone who’s actually been through it, went to the same university, experienced the same difficulties that students face. So I think that’s very important. Well, I’m glad you’re setting yourself, you’re on the board.
Anything else you’d like to add before we go to our next question?
Sunny: So I just want to let the viewers know that I know what the hardship is when students are on campus. And I can answer, I can help. And there are many ways, so we can get into the issues later on, but I just want to let you know.
I am one of them. I came through the life, what they’re facing today. So I would love to help them.
And if I’m given an opportunity to get onto the board, and there are a lot of things we can fix at Wayne State, it’s a great university, great location. I love Michigan, love Detroit. Our kids will be living here.
Sal: So let me just translate a little bit. ( In Arabic) So, dear listeners, Sunny has lived in Michigan for more than 35 years. He came to Michigan as a student, studied at Wayne State, graduated from Wayne State. So he’s trying to be on the board of directors of Wayne State to help students who need this.
Sal: Can you share some details about your personal and professional background and how they have prepared you for this role?
Sunny: First of all, I just want to let you know, many of you came through the hardship and everything. And I came from a village, like most of you did.
And my father was a farmer. So I know what the hard work is. And I came and I survived. I landed in this country with $1,000 in my hand with tuition for one semester. And landed in December of 89 and came. And I never seen snow in my first time.
Many of you guys, we are in the same environment. We came from the desert area. Exactly. We all came from the desert area. Never seen snow. So not only saw the snow in first year, I ended up working outside.
So within one semester, I worked hard. I sent the money back to my dad, whatever he gave me. I built my life.
And, you know, that’s my, based on, I have a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Wayne State University. I lived in the campus. So there are some things when I see, you know what? Nothing changed.
The city developed a lot. But you know what? Same old issues. Today’s students are facing the same old issues.
And I said, you know what? We need to do something about it. We need to fix it. We need to help these kids. And the talent also we’re losing. Kids are moving out of the state. We need to keep them here.
We need to do something about it. We need to train them. We need to teach them for tomorrow’s job so that, you know what? Kids are moving out because they feel like we don’t have jobs.
But, you know, we do have jobs. Michigan is the technology hub, automotive hub. We have a lot of jobs. I am in technology business. Part of my business is a technology business. We ended up bringing the people not only from other states, sometimes out of the country too. We need to fix this. We need to keep our kids in Michigan. We need to fix this.
Sal: What have been some of your Key accomplishments in your previous positions or role that demonstrate your stability to become board of directors?
Sunny: First of all, I will start with my business. I am in telephone business. my in my business also I am bringing the money back most companies outsourcing so what I do is I’m taking telecom US telecom service taking and selling outside the country so instead so if not for me these companies buy the telecom service from the foreign companies I’m bringing the money back that’s my business accomplishment I’m helping the country and not only that I’ve been involved in a lot of philanthropy work, especially in the pandemic time I was able to work with Senator Runestad, and we raised money for the food pantries and everywhere wherever we need, so a lot of social work we did and also I’m not sure Sal
You remember it came on the news too at that time the police officer Loren courts, when he got ambushed and killed Detroit cop and I was able to raise I’m glad I was able to raise $15,000 for the family and I was the lead, I took a leadership on that one and also I’m part of a organization with the 40,000 members it’s a called American Telecom Association, with a part of the organization we raised quarter million dollars last year and for the kids we every year we announce $1,000 each for those poor kids who were performing well in the school so this year part of it I’m announcing $2,000.
Also I was involved in Red Cross big-time Kentucky tornado we raised about $25,000 and another 25 we raised it’s gonna be pretty soon we’ll be presenting the cheque to the Red Cross with the condition of using the funds within Michigan.
So I we made sure that these funds should be used within Michigan and that’s my philanthropy side. But with my business background I have a very strong business background with the reducing the cost and running the business more efficiently and I can do better job and I’m sure we can fix a lot of, you know, especially affordability issues. we can do it okay.
Sal: we thank you for the efforts Sunny, you know it’s always good to do good you
Sunny: I’m glad I’m able to help thank you thank you
Sal: what are your main goals and priorities if you’re elected to the board of directors for Wayne State University
Sunny: so I am running because of the personal pain points I faced and let me tell you some of them especially as I said again affordability is the main thing to you know kids are. it took me 15 years to pay off my tuition, with the 26% on the credit card that’s not good.
I think these kids these kids the school needs to be affordable we can do it many ways. raising the tuition is not the only way to run the colleges okay there are a lot of wastage.
I’m sure we can control the cost and also I have a so we can approach alumni there’s a lot of alumni successful companies, private companies make the partnership with the private companies, not only affordability, we can also make them partner to provide the jobs to our kids, training internships there are a lot of things,
I’m in the business, I do understand, I need I need people too, so we can definitely bring the kids and try to keep the kids in here and also next one is especially Wayne State being in downtown.
So security is at most important, that’s true, so we need to work with the law enforcement I mean so far they’re doing excellent job. I have no issues at all when I lived in the campus things were pretty bad now things are good but you know what let me tell you. Things can be better, Sal can be better.
I have a 22 year old daughter every time she calls and my wife first thing she ask is, are you okay is everything is okay and that’s every parent concern is that. Every parent constantly does that so we need to make sure that the kids are safe in the campus.
So you know those are some of the points and I am and also you know what, free speech okay free speech with the responsibility. Protests are definitely welcome but not a violent protest. So we should have a wise for everybody not just a one group.
I think that’s more important for students to share ideas okay whether it’s an objection or whatever you know whether they’re supporting some issue it doesn’t matter. I think everyone should wise
Sal: Sunny, we touched three different points. Is there anything you would like to add, Sunny?
Sunny: I want viewers to know that this position is a voluntary position. I’m not getting any pay for this position. It’s an entirely voluntary position.
In fact, actually, I am ready to spend my own money. It’s my passion. I’m running because of my passion, and I’m running because I would like to help the students.
Sal: So Sunny, Why do you believe that our listeners should support you, to become board of directors?
Sunny: First of all, I just want to let you know that this position… So they need to support me because we need to work as a community. We need to fix these issues in the schools. We need to help our own kids. I cannot win unless I have community support. Okay. As I said again, this is an unpaid position.
I would like to help, it’s coming as a passion for me. After graduating from Wayne State, living in Michigan, this state and this country, this university gave me everything for me. I felt like it’s time for me to give it back, time for me to do something for the community.
And that’s exactly why I’m running. I need the support, everyone’s support. I cannot do it myself.
I need your support to help our kids. As a community, let’s keep our kids in Michigan. Let’s fix the schools. Let’s keep, let’s make schools safer and affordable for our kids.
Sahar: Okay, Mr. Sunny, how can they support, our listeners now, our community? How do you want them to support? How they can come and elect you?
Sunny: Sure, this is a statewide election, Sahar. So no matter where you live in Michigan, you can vote for me.
Sahar: All Michigan?
Sunny: All Michigan. Across the state, anybody can vote for me. Also, they can reach, they can look at my website, sunnyforwaynestate.com. Sunny, S-U-N-N-Y, Sunny, F-O-R, forwaynestate.com. https://sunnyforwaynestate.com/
So they can look at it.
And I love to have their following on my website. So if they follow my Facebook, they can get the updates. They can see what I am doing it, to help the community.
So please take a look at our website and visit my website. And also the Facebook and other social media, whichever is comfortable, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, whatever you are comfortable, you can go take a look at it. We are updating the information on a daily basis.
The events I’m attending, the meetings I’m attending, those are the things.
Sahar: Okay, when is the day date? When is the day of the elect?
Sunny: The November 5th is a presidential election. Same ballot, you can see my name on the college section, second page, I think it goes into the second page.
Sahar: You mean August 6th?
Sunny: August 6th is the primaries. Yes.
My name, I don’t, I’m not there, it’s not there. My name will be there on the November 5th. November 5th.
Sal: Sunny, any last words?
Sunny: Last word, first of all.You know what, these elections, especially being a statewide election, it’s not cheap. It’s costing me, and I need help also. For any generous person, you can go to my website.
The donate button right on the website, first page, so you can donate. I would really appreciate. Also, any kids, anybody wants to involve as a volunteer, and this is a good experience. There is a volunteer button also on the website. Please look for volunteer button and sign up.
Sahar: Do you need people to be in your committee?
Sunny: I would love to have anybody.
Sahar: How?
Sunny: As an advisor, too, I would love to take their input. I would love to work with them.
Sahar: They can call you or visit your website and apply.
Sunny: Exactly, the phone number is on the website, too. They can call, they can email us, and there is a contact page also.
Sahar: We will put in comments today your website and everything, and how can they reach you or reach Mr. Sal, too, because he’s with you 24 hours.
Sunny: Also, just before, this position, as I said, again, it’s a voluntary position, but you know what? Something they offered me, free parking.
Sal: So, Sunny, Thank you Sunny. Thank you for being in our show today. It is such an honour to have you here. We wish you best of luck.
Sahar: We will have another interview with Mr. Sunny. We will have another interview.
Sunny: Thank you.
Sahar: Very soon. Or before, maybe in October. Maybe in October, you will be with us again.
Sunny: Sure.
Sahar: It will be like a month.
Sunny: Once the absentee ballot is out, we can see the names, where it is, so we can explain.
Sahar: Everything is in your website. Exactly. That’s great.
Sahar: Thank you very much.
Sunny: Thank you, Sahar. Thank you, Sal.
Sunny: Shukran to both of you guys. In India we call it shukriya. So it’s the same. Shukriya.
Sahar & Sal: Thank you.