BSA uses programs to share culture around campus

A screening of the film Antwone Fisher was held on February 10 in the Clayton Center’s Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall. Based on a true story, the film stars Denzel Washington and Derek Luke and tells the story of a young navy man who is forced to see a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. During treatment, the young man reveals a horrible past and realizes a hopeful future. Photo courtesy of matttrailer.com

Many people of many different cultures come to this campus to learn. Whether they are Asian,
European or islanders, they are here as a representative of their origins.

This includes the students of the Black Student Association, or BSA. This organization has made itself
known by putting on multiple programs, from Kool-Aid parties to haunted houses to poetry nights and
more.

One example of these interactive programs is the annual Apollo Night talent show, hosted this year on
Feb. 2.

The night included acts of many different kinds—dancers, rappers, actors, singers and more. The talent
was not exclusive to one culture, either; people of different backgrounds showed what they were made
of, much like the purpose of BSA itself.

“I think the main goal for the programs that our organization puts on is to educate—starting here at our
campus—our peers about what black culture is and the things that we do and what our culture means
to us,” said BSA member Sheryl Tingling. “We want to share that with the rest of the world, and we’re
going to start by doing that here on this campus.”

Expression of African-American culture and ways of life in general is celebrated during the month of
February, which is Black History Month.

When asked what Black History Month meant to them, several members of BSA gave their opinions.

“To celebrate those people that did do all those things to make us come this far, because if it weren’t
for them, we would not be in college,” Shenelle Hendricks said.

Ayesha Turner, another member of BSA, had a slightly different, but related response.

“That we matter. That we, we being people of our descent, made accomplishments,” Turner said. “We
learn about our own selves. Every year, I learn something new that I didn’t learn last year about myself,
about my generation, about my family, and about black people.”

Others should remember that the people in BSA are representatives of the entire black culture and that
they try to raise awareness of the culture of which they are a part.

BSA encourages students to think about this as they visit BSA’s other upcoming programs, like Club I,
also known as Isaac’s After Dark, a party set for Friday, Feb. 17, celebrating the ‘90s.

BSA can also be found Wednesday nights in the Multicultural Center (Bartlett 301) starting at 9:00 p.m.

The club encourages not only those of African and African-American descent but also those of all
nationalities to come and participate in their meetings.

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