The Black Student Union welcomed old and new members to a Welcome Back Barbecue this past Wednesday. For BSU President Lorenzo Burke, the barbecue was not only meant to have students reconnect after summer vacation, but also to introduce the new executive board to its large membership.
Those in attendance had the choice of choosing from an assortment of traditional barbecue dishes, such as macaroni and cheese, chicken wings, burgers, hot dogs, and brownies.
Now that the fall semester has begun, BSU is excited for its upcoming fall semester events. “We’ll be holding a Kwanzaa celebration in December,” said Burke. “We also have planned a trip to the Nuyorican Poets Café in New York City.” The Nuyorican Poets Café serves as a multicultural and multi-arts institution, and, according to its website, uses various forms of art to empower minority and underprivileged artists.
Burke was also excited to share a collaborative event that is in the initial planning stages: “We are looking to hold a cultural fair with STEP and LAA…the details are currently being worked out.”.
Dhaffau Leon, a 2/4 mechanical engineering student, is a member of BSU who attended the Welcome Back Barbecue. “I help get the word out about our events and help with newsletters,” said Leon.
The Black Student Union at Stevens Institute of Technology strives to embrace, enrich, and empower black culture through education, respect, and unity. The organization has held numerous events that speak to its mission, such as its annual “Stepping through Black History” event, which showcases the evolution of music and dance that encompasses African roots. BSU also hosted an open discussion regarding the Michael Brown case last semester. BSU hopes to continue enriching the community through its events and is excited to see what the Fall 2015 semester holds for its members.
