The Black Student Union has different meanings to each current officer, but each of them agrees there is a sense of community and comfort within the organization. Their main priority is to give black students and other students of color a community that allows them to express themselves and feel included.  

“It feels like responsibility and it also feels like home, like I am able to relax, decompress, and just be who I really am,” said President Sydney Borkins.  

“For me, I would say, it’s a place where a sense of community is established and you don’t feel alone,” said Secretary Lo’ren Ballard.  

“For me, it is a place where I can have my voice heard and be with people who look like me,” said Vice President Precious Roundtree. “Now I have something to look forward to like meetings and events. Now I have a way to connect to people like me.” 

The BSU has been reestablished since 2019 as an organization to encourage cultural diversity as well as unify and empower black students. 4.2% of SWOSU students are black, this is an estimated 141 students recorded by Collegefactual.com.  

“It has helped me understand the importance to have organizations like this in communities which are predominantly white where you sometimes forget that these different communities exist,” said Professor Natasha Tinsley, the BSU advisor. 

“I feel like there’s a bit of a history, we can at least learn from each other, people from out of the state or out of the country. They tell about their experiences, we can tell about our experiences.” 

“It’s not just for black students,” said Borkins. “It’s for everyone but we want to focus on people of color in the community and on campus because we feel like their voices aren’t being pushed and we want to bring them to the front.” 

“I would say it is a safe place, for students like me who understand the struggles,” said Treasurer Marion Adelson. “Where you can communicate without having to filter yourself. Just be yourself.” 

“It shows black students have a voice and they feel acknowledged because the point is to ensure there are specific events and activities that actually pertain to their wants, needs and their expectations,” said Tinsley. “It is ensuring that they feel they have a place on this campus.”  

“Our main goal is to have more students joining and bring awareness of what is happening right now, what has happened in the past, what might happen in the future,” said Ballard. “We talk about struggles black people have been experiencing.”  

“The intention is not separating,” said Tinsley. “The idea is ensuring everybody knows if you are here to be supportive and be encouraging of black and of people of color then please join because you are absolutely welcome.”  

“If any non-people of color want to join, we welcome them,” said Borkin. “We welcome them as an ally and to be able to get all voices heard and not just a curtain over a shade. It’s open to everybody.” 

The BSU hopes for growth to join together with people of the local community and similar organizations housed from different areas including out of the United States.  

“I want to see more students joining and enjoying activities we will offer,” said Adelson. “Feel comfortable coming to the club and seeing what we do.” 

Recent events hosted by BSU included handing out Valentines to students with black historic individuals, publishing flyers to celebrate them as well, and creating a collection of articles to recognize achievements in the local community.