The Black Student Union welcomes new E-Board

By Lexi White

Features Editor

photo | Lexi white
Students socializing at the “Soulful Social” event at the Adanti Student Center on Sep. 3.

You know what they say: new semester, new E-Board! Quite a few members of the Black Student Union, BSU, graduated in the spring, so the organization elected new leaders for the 2024-2025 academic year at the “Soulful Social” event.

On Sep. 3, new and familiar faces filled Room 217 in the Adanti Student Center to meet everyone who will be a part of BSU this year.

The new president of the BSU is political science major Ryan Williams, a sophomore.

As president, Williams oversees the other members and guides them in the right direction while also letting them shine in their own unique ways.

Williams said that he wanted this event to draw new members to the BSU.

“I hope today can start to build a foundation for them to continue with BSU and maybe pursue a leadership role with us,” Williams said.

Williams said that BSU is “working on a rebrand, making sure everybody feels included, and having fun, but also making sure that they are able to take something away from it.”

E-Board members learn new skills and utilize the techniques from their roles in their future careers.

Another student with a leadership position in BSU is sociology major John Alston, a senior. He oversees the fundraising portions of the union.

This role gives Alston the responsibility to come up with ideas for fundraising events and figuring out the cost of each event.

“BSU is a place for people of color on campus to come together, to have a home and to talk to people who look like them,” Alston said.

Alston said that becoming a part of BSU was a great way for him to make friends.

“I think our event is benefiting students already,” Alston said. “There were a lot of freshmen and transfer students who were a little shy at first. But I feel like people are starting to come out of their shells.”

One of the potential new members of BSU was healthcare studies major Teranisha Woodstock, a sophomore.

Woodstock transferred to the university this semester and wanted to join BSU to feel a part of the community and to experience; “the family environment that the Black Student Union creates.”

To help new students adjust to the university, BSU provided dinner and icebreakers so all the members could become acquainted.

As a new student to campus, Woodstock said, “We are used to being in our rooms and not knowing anyone. I think this is a group where everyone can come together.”

In addition, nursing major Vicky Louis, a freshman, was interested in seeing what BSU was all about.

She said that it is important for students to find an organization where they feel welcome.

Louis said, “This can help students balance academic stress because everyone needs a break sometimes.”

The BSU is always looking for new members, and they host their meetings on Mondays at 1 p.m.