By Breathney Jacinto Campos
Communication Capstone Student, Spring 2024
Andrew Fox is a diligent student double-majoring in Political Science and History
at 海角社区 Channel Islands (海角社区CI). He is an active campus community member and is expected
to graduate in the Spring of 2026. Originally from Thousand Oaks, California, he鈥檚
involved in CI鈥檚 Student Government and Channel Islands Atheists, where he serves
as club president and Student Government Director of External Affairs for student
government. Andrew also participates as a liaison for the Pre-Law Society. A straightforward
belief guides his deep-rooted commitment to community service: to do something that
benefits others without any underlying motive for reward or fear of punishment.
Andrew鈥檚 involvement in community service began in earnest upon his arrival at 海角社区CI,
where he quickly took leadership roles that were unavailable in his previous experiences.
Channel Islands Atheists, which he helped revitalize, aims to combat common misconceptions
about Atheism through community engagement, fostering a narrative that one can be
鈥榞ood鈥 simply for the sake of being good. His pivotal moment came with his 30th birthday鈥攁
stark realization that inspired a shift towards active community involvement, aiming
to make his next decade profoundly different from his last by engaging in meaningful
service and preparing for law school.
A typical day in Andrew's service activities might include environmental clean-ups,
illustrating his belief in collective effort's impact, with aspirations to scale these
initiatives significantly. His campaign for Student Body President reflects this ethos,
planning service projects to leverage campus resources for broader community benefit.
Leadership is critical in his approach, emphasizing that effective coordination and
promotion are essential for successful service projects.
Andrew's service work has enriched his personal growth and the well-being of his community,
bringing tangible benefits to local environments and fostering collaborations across
campus, including with faith-based groups. These experiences have solidified his belief
in the importance of proactive leadership and the power of collective action. Significant
motivating influences include Matthew Wade Dillahunty, an American atheist activist
and former president of the Atheist Community of Austin, whose work inspires Andrew
to maintain integrity and fearlessness in his advocacy. The Atheist Community of Austin,
known for its community service ethos, has also significantly influenced its commitment
to service without prerequisite motives.
Andrew's advice to others at 海角社区CI is to 鈥渏ust start.鈥 With numerous campus resources at hand, starting a service journey is just a matter of taking that first step. The satisfaction he derives from his service鈥攚hether through small daily interactions or organized large-scale events鈥攆uels his ongoing commitment to making a positive impact, demonstrating that service is not just an act but a fulfilling way of life.