The Black Student Union (BSU) at Eureka College is an empowering community for black students on college and university campuses. BSUs goal is to provide a safe space for black individuals to express feelings, social issues, and talk about concerns and needs. A lot of black students within the institution come together host events and activities to show awareness support within education, and unity among Black students.
Although BSU stands for Black Student Union, it isn’t just for black people, but instead for anyone to come and support the community in any way. Having a lot of student support in the BSU community help other others want to come out and join as well, this viability help raise awareness about the experience and need of the black students as well as the advocacy work of BSU.
The strong support within the BSU community encourages more students to get involved and join the movement. This growing visibility not only raises awareness of the experiences and needs of black students, but also highlights the advocacy efforts of BSU. By participating in BSU events, students can learn, engage, and contribute to a more inclusive campus environment. Maleah Hill is the president of BSU at Eureka. Hill leads with passion and dedication to ensure that the community thrives. Through her efforts, she has created a welcoming space where black students can connect, share experiences, and celebrate their culture. The initiatives and events organized by BSU, such as the celebration of Kwanzaa and Black History Month, serve as powerful reminders of the rich heritage and contributions of African Americans.
Hill expressed how special BSU is and how it’s great for the people and it’s a place for black students to come together and build community. Maleah’s leadership and the vibrant spirit of BSU continue to make a positive impact on students and campus life at Eureka College.
In an email, Hill noted that Eureka’s approach reflects elements of ISU’s Black Student Union, especially in its focus on discussing racism and meeting student needs.
Cheyenne Mckinley is also a member of BSU as the social media manager. She is responsible for posting updates, promoting events and sharing information and helping the BSU union stay connected with students online on the BSU social platform. She expressed how her goal in BSU is to reach more people and keep everyone informed, while also keeping the social media pages active, creative and welcoming so that students know how to get around and get involved. Mckinley stated how she wants to improve communication and engagement, she would like for for the social media pages to bring more attention to their events, highlighting black culture and student success, in the hopes of making their organization more visible on campus, as well as keeping the social media pages fun by using flyers, videos, TikToks and reminders so that everyone can stay involved.
Mckinley also expressed how Interviewing people helps BSU choose members who are serious about what they’re trying to do. It makes sure that they bring in people who want to help and work as a team and represent the community in a positive way. As a result, this keeps the organization professional and organized.
Making a difference has always been important to Mckinley, her plan for ultimately acheiving this goal is by the use of social media. Spreading information, making the events bigger, and celebrating black students and showing positive things that they do and bring to campus. By keeping their platforms active and creative, she can help grow the organization and make students feel more connected; Mckinley’s strategy to leverage social media for community engagement is both innovative and effective. Through various online platforms, she seeks to bring people together, amplify event attendance, and celebrate the diverse contributions of black students on campus, by sharing positive stories and achievements, Mckinley showcases the talents and successes within the black student community, fostering a sense of pride and unity.
