http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/RG9-9-00-3_40_9_1989_p3.pdf

Media

Part of BSU: new enthusiasm in '89, September 15, 1989

Text

CJ)
Q)

BSU officials hope to fill their office this semester with a new group of young students.

BSU: new enthusiasm in '89
"Youth movement" brightens future
IAN ARONSON
Spectrum StaffReporter

Officers of the BJack Student
Union are predicting change for
the organization.
Diversity, enthusiasm and an
influx of younger members are
bringing change to both the organi­
zation and the University, accord­
ing to BSU President Sha-King
Alston and Vice President Umar
Adeyola.
Increased minority participation
in the UB political and administra­
tive system is an important BSU
goal, Adeyola and Alston said.
"The reason we have a Black Stu­
dent Union is because the repre­
sentation that we have on campus
does not address ourneeds," Alston
said.
Adeyola concurred, saying,
"without politics we have no say m
what goes on." He added that to
have a greater voice on campus,
more minorities need to get m-

volved in the student government.
Surge of young students
Increased participation from the
freshman and sophomore classes is
reshaping the BSU, he continued.
'Tm not saying that the juniors and
seniors have died out, but there
needs to be a new surge to boost
things, and that's the way things are
going now."
Alston spoke of "students com­
ing in from diverse areas of New
YorkCity, the state, even from other
countries that come by the office
every day with new ideas (and)
wanting to implement new pro­
grams." This, he explained, contributes "energy and enthusiasm
that's necessary to help our organi­
zation."
Alston added, "If this is a Uni­
versity where we all come together
to learn, then we should all be aware
of other people. Our purpose is to
go out and try to teach others about
our culture.

BSU activities
To do this, the BSU sponsors
various activities on and around
campus. These programs include
Black History Month, a Kwanza
program, and a children's Hallow­
een party. Alston noted that BSU
programs are not only for black
people. He discussed the annual
dialogue held between BSU and
the Jewish Student Union and
mentioned plans to establish pro­
grams with the Women's Caucus
Coalition.
Adeyola is seeking an expansion
ofthe organization's programs into
thegreater-Buffalocommunity. He
described plans for an outreach
program, involving tutorials for
local young people, and explained
the need to reach youths of all eth­
nic groups.
"I am not speaking on an Afri­
can-American level, he said, "but I
am speaking on an American level.
Our youths are the people that are
going to bring things together."