By SHANNON NESSERALLA, Senior Reporter
Members of the Black Student Union say the new organization has become a place of camaraderie and insight for Northwestern students.
The club was started to bring the campus community together, according to President Olumurewa Olalere and Vice President Shakira Lane.
Other club officers include Alliyah Stovall, Deja Lacy, Brian Free, Hosea Marshal and Takia Zachary.
The goal of the group is to create a safe and positive atmosphere to celebrate Black students through events such as movie nights, debate panels and trivia games.
“I believe that the creativity sparked this semester will be the start of great things for the NWOSU BSU students and members,” Olalera said.
The Black Student Union is an inclusive organization, members say. They say they hope to bring new perspectives and opportunities to Northwestern with support of the community.
“One of the main goals is to contribute to community service, such as volunteering at the nursing home or supporting collegiate teams in Alva,” Olalera said. “We hope to bring insight on issues such as physical [and] mental health in the Black community, while raising awareness to possible solutions that could help us all.”
Lacy said it can be hard walking into the classroom knowing you’ll stand out among the rest of your peers.
“It comes with being a minority and attending a primarily white institution,” Lacy said.
“We naturally stand out in a room. It can be overwhelming, and in certain predicaments, stressful that not a lot of people can relate to you or are going to have you back.”
The club plans to have more events in the upcoming months. Members say they would like to put on events specifically reflective of Black culture. These may include cookouts and 2000s-themed parties, as well as forums and informational meetings.