"see blue." #selfie: Adnan Toric

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 24, 2016) — Want to get to know the people behind some of the biggest student leadership positions on campus? We did, too! That's why we've introduced "see blue." #selfie — a series on UKNow that lets student leaders from across campus tell us a little bit more about themselves and their organizations. Up this week, the 2016 vice president of community outreach for the University of Kentucky Interfraternity Council.

Adnan Toric is a rising senior history and English double major from Louisville, Kentucky. Though he claims Louisville as his hometown, Toric was born in Bosnia and moved to the United States when he was two years old. Toric was impacted by that move and now uses the experience to serve others, demonstrating how one can make a difference in other people's lives by contributing even just a little bit. Toric is a brother of Delta Sigma Phi, where he serves as the newly initiated brother educator, and is also involved in Student Government and the UK Service Council. Get to know Toric in his "see blue." #selfie!  

UKNow: What is your major and what year are you?

Adnan Toric: I am going to be a senior. I'm a double major in history and English.

UK: Where are you from?

AT: I was born in Bosnia. My family moved here in '97; so I was about two years old. We have been here ever since. Well, in Louisville.

UK: Tell me about your position on the Interfraternity Council (IFC).

AT: So I'm the vp of community outreach. My duties, as outlined, are to meet with the philanthropy and community chairs of each fraternity each semester, conduct round tables where we discuss ideas and conduct interaction between them throughout the year. Younger chapters said they have benefitted from connecting with other fraternity chairs, especially ones trying to start philanthropies now.

UK: What do you like most about being vp of community outreach?

AT: It's good for me because when we moved to the U.S. we got a bunch of help. People gave us housing and awesome stuff, so it's stuck with me. You can make a difference in people's lives if you contribute a little bit.

UK: When did you become involved in IFC?

AT: This is my second year doing it. I came in last spring and it was because the old vp of community outreach was going to study abroad and they needed a replacement. I was re-elected and this semester I have been focusing on facilitating better philanthropy in chapters. I would rather see chapters succeed. A few chapters have started new philanthropies.

UK: What impact do you want to leave on IFC for the future? 

AT: I will be in this position until the end of next fall. I would like for people to understand that IFC is a resource for chapters instead of a governing body. People can use it for help for philanthropies, community service and networking with other chapters.

UK: What has been an initiative that you've enjoyed so far being involved in IFC?

AT: Something Weston Loyd started. He started the IFC DanceBlue gala and I minimally helped him but I really want to keep that going. I'd like for that to be a tradition. I would like for round tables going on between philanthropy and community chairs to keep going so they can begin doing joint events.

UK: What else are you involved in? 

AT: SGA, IFC, UK Service Council, Delta Sigma Phi — I'm newly initiated brother educator for D Sig. It's a position to help newly initiated brothers acclimate to what we do and what they can get involved in. For SGA, I'm the student disability resource coordinator. The bulk of what I'm involved in is service-based.

UK: Did you want to join a fraternity coming into college or did you decide to join after you had been at UK a semester or two?

AT: I joined Delta Sig as a sophomore. I was first in my family to go to college and I didn't understand what Greek life was. All I knew about it was negative media based on perceptions. My friends kind of influenced me to join sophomore year and I saw it was more a tool to be more involved on campus. The brotherhood and friendships you make are so valuable.

UK: Has there been a teacher or staff member that has made a positive impact on your time here at UK?

AT: Dr. Philip Harling — he’s the director for the Gaines Center. I took "History 121" as a freshman. He loved teaching and didn’t care about how much students worked, more so the process of them learning and engaging with the material. In class I would always speak to him and now I stay in contact with him every semester about classes and how we are doing. He’s really like a step-in father. He’s been there for me whenever I need it — when I'm stressed — I’ve really appreciated it. 

UK: Who is your favorite music artist right now?

AT:  "VIEWS" just dropped so I'd say Drake. He can do a lot with his music. He can sing and rap and drop in Jamaican beats. Definitely Drake.

UK: Who is your biggest role model?

AT: I would say my brother-in-law, Danny. He has been married to my sister for four or five years now. The way he interacts with everyone is really positive and he genuinely cares about people. Everyone has things they are dealing with or going through. It’s important for people to realize that and most don’t take the time to care for others like he does. He’s very motivated. He and my sister have worked hard and they are moving to California, where they’ve always wanted to live.

UK: If you could have a super power, what would it be?

AT: Oh for sure to live forever. I feel like it would be so interesting to see what happens. Even in the last 100 years think of how different the world has become, the way we cook, travel … I think it's interesting to see how people innovate.

UK: Growing up, what did you want to be?

AT: I wanted to be an attorney. Just watching TV, I thought how it was interesting how they stood up for people in instances where those people didn't understand how the legal process worked.

UK: What's the best gift you've ever received?

AT: So, when I was seven or eight we went to visit our family sponsor — a very nice lady. She paid for a lot when we came to the U.S. She invited us over to Christmas and my older brother and sister got clothes and she got me a Buzz Lightyear space ship and doll and I thought it was the coolest thing. That was the best because it always stuck with me.

UK: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

AT: Bradley Cooper. He's the dude. From limitless and the stuff he does … he knows what he's doing and he's doing him.

UK: What is your favorite city ever?

AT: Quebec City is awesome. That made me feel more like home there in the summer. Everyone was really nice and very inviting and welcoming. And it was so clean. You could tell everyone was happy that lived there.

UK: What would you tell an incoming freshman? 

AT: Get involved. It's beneficial to your future and you meet a lot of great people no matter your affiliantion you can become good friends and meet great mentors from teachers and administration that are really there to help you. Freshman see it like a high school environment but in reality people are at the university because they care and they are there to help. It would make everyone's day better.

"see blue." #selfies will appear every other Tuesday on UKNow. Know a student leader we should feature? Contact Rebecca Stratton at rebecca.stratton@uky.edu to nominate someone.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Stratton, rebecca.stratton@uky.edu, 859-323-2395