“One thing that BSA prides itself on, is when building success, it takes a village and unity,” is what Black Student Alliance (BSA) president Pryce Erwin told me when asked what BSA meant to him.
Founded in 1978, BSA has been working hard to build a strong community of black students on campus. This year, the leadership team is ensuring that all students feel seen and heard, and while doing this, they are also working to expand their club. I spoke with President Pryce Erwin and Vice President Megan Stewart, who are both seniors, to gain some insight into the club, and why it’s so important.
“Our goal is to reach out to new members and let them know that if nobody has your back, we think like you and look like you, so we are going to have your back,” Erwin said.
Running an organization isn’t just about looking good for your resume or trying to get involved on campus, it’s so much more.
“It’s always important to have an organization that will help you grow academically, but it’s also good to have an organization that will help you grow within your community. BSA is not only a safe space, but it will introduce you to more people in your black community, and you will also get a chance to tap into the many resources available to you as a black student,” Stewart said.
Erwin and Stewart emphasized the importance of creating a safe space for students within the organization.
“It’s kind of a melting pot of different things that we have to offer as black people within our black spaces. It’s interesting to come together and look at everyone and see all the different talents and aspirations that people have,” Stewart added.
When asked about his goals for the organization before the semester ends, Erwin said, “I would like to see more members. There are a lot of black students on campus that we haven’t reached yet, and I would love to see them come in and join us.”
February 18-24 was BSA week, which is perfect since it is at the end of Black History Month. With seven events planned, Erwin and Stewart had goals in mind when putting the events together.
“BSA week is about bringing everyone together, having a good time, and celebrating black culture,” Stewart explained.
Ewrin added, “A lot of our events we have planned are not only centered around our members but also bringing new members in.”
BSA Week Recap:
The theme for this year’s BSA week was Mamba’s Triumph, honoring the late Kobe Bryant.
“Our theme this year is sports-related,” Erwin said. “We wanted to put a spotlight on being legendary, being successful, and leaving a legacy. We decided to highlight Kobe during this BSA week because that’s some of the things he has done, even if he isn’t with us anymore,”
Here is a list of events that BSA put together:
- Campus Clean Up
- Empanadas and Bake Sale
- Movie Night
- General Body Meeting/Game Night
- Trap & Paint
- Battle of the Orgs
- Mamba’s Triumph: The Party
Erwin explained that these events allowed members to be brought together.
He said, “We had our movie night on February 20, and we had a lot of people that didn’t know each other, but about halfway through our movie, they started with little gestures towards each other, and by the end of the movie, they were sharing stories about their lives and things like that. It was wonderful to see.”
To end the week, they got together as a group and celebrated everyone’s participation and hard work. “At the end of our BSA week, on our season finale, we are going to throw a great party and it’ll be a great celebration of Black History Month,” Stewart said.
Overall, BSA is a great outlet for black students to come together and celebrate their culture. At the end of our conversation, Erwin said something that summed it all up. He said, “In BSA, there is no competition, it’s all family.”
If you’re interested in joining, check out their Instagram page: @bsasouthern
