Following their mission to be good students who participate actively in community service, the Black Student Union (BSU) is looking forward to many of the activities they have planned for the spring semester.
Currently, the BSU is planning on adopting a classroom from the South Bend Community School system and assisting them with reading.
“We did this in the past,” said Lysa Wilson, president of the BSU. “They wanted us to teach them the importance of reading education. And so we did that. We went to the classroom three times and then we brought them to IUSB and they have about three or four hours here.”
The BSU also served as role models for the fifth grade class, most who weren’t interested in reading when the program began.
“Any kid will look up to somebody who’s in college. We told them ‘You can do the same thing we’re doing, as long as you stick to education, stick to reading.’ They were more enthusiastic about reading, but more importantly that they could go to college,” said Wilson.
This semester, they are hoping to adopt a third grade classroom and have the same effect.
The club is also hoping to hold a meeting for high school students where the BSU will provide information for forms and procedures, such as the FAFSA, that need to be done before entering college.
In addition to reaching out to the community, the BSU has events planned for the IUSB campus as well.
“The BSU allows its members to develop a bond. For non-members, we have activities that unite the campus,” said Keishia Jones, director of public relations for the BSU.
They are planning on a Lock and Key Dance on Feb. 12 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Grille. Hand-made locks and keys will be handed out randomly, with the idea that students must find the person who has the lock or key that matches theirs.
The hopes are that students will be able to meet someone new at the dance.
The BSU is also planning on having Black History Month events for an entire week in February, focusing on black history education but also uniting the campus and having fun.
Students who are in good academic standing with the university are welcome to join the BSU. No meeting times are set yet, but they are hoping to hold two meetings every other week. If a student cannot attend either meeting, Wilson has an e-mail and text message list for students who would like to participate in any event, but can’t attend meetings.
The BSU is also accepting students of all ethnicities. “The biggest misconception people have… is that you have to be black to be in it. You don’t. We’ve had other ethnicities in our club; you don’t have to be black,” said Wilson.
For more information on the BSU, students may look them up on Facebook by searching IUSB Black Student Union, or by email at iusbbsu@gmail.com.
BSU planning community service, campus events
Published: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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