http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/VF_I18G_048.pdf

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Part of Black Student Union concludes year's events with Small Keels BBQ, May 6, 2019

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Black Student Union
-concludes year's events with
Small Keels BBQ SPECTRUM 5/6/19
BBQ in honor of past .
members brings out over
100 students
BENJAMIN BLANCHET
EDITORIAL EDITOR

BSU hosted its annual Small Keels BBQ
outside the Student Union on Sunday, celebrating the co_nclus1on of the academic
year and the lives of two former club
members.
At least 100 students celebrated the
warm weather through music, food and
games. The BBQ brings both past mem­
bers and current members to campus to
celebrate the club's conclusion for the
year, as the annual BBQ's name honored
two late BSU members, Damian Small and
Trevor Keel, since the mid-1990s.
"This event is really important to BSU
not just as an end of the year event but
just to commemorate life in general, not

to be morbid, but it might be your last
[BBQ]," said Ayenoumou Barry, BSU's
president. "This event holds a very special
place in our hearts, it's one of my favorite
events with great vibes and a lot of people
come out."
The event's name honors Small, a Guya­
nes.e international student at UB, who died
on the day of BSU's BBQ in 1993. Small
died in a car crash on Kensington Avenue
which also killed two people in a separate
vehicle basketball star Kevin Roberson
and his sister Michelle Dixie, according to
The Buffalo News. And Keel, who the event
also honors, was shot and killed in Buf­
falo's east side in 1993, according to the
Democrat & Chronicle. .
Past BSU members, such as James Mint­
er and Paul Henderson, told The Spectrum
they remember commemorating the two
in the '90s and are happy that the annual
BBQ is still going on. BSU releases bal­
loons in their honor and asks members. to

remember
lives the
of those they lost
over the past year. In addition

to
the memorial, BSU
members said the
BBQ has been a
way to get current
and outgoing mem­
bers together
to
culminate the year's
achievements.
Daniel Edwards,
current BSU vice
president, said the
event has a "homey," communal vibe for
everyone in attendance.
"It's definitely one of those events
where it'll allow not only the old e-board
to go out in a wholesome way but also al-·
lows the new e-board to get used to their
positions," said Edwards, a junior exercise
science major.
Lucas Furlow,· activities coordinator,
said the BBQ has brought out dozens of
former BSU members and has worked
well with other clubs' events, like when
the BBQ aligned with African Student As­
sociation's 2017 basketball tournament in

Clark Hall.
"I love this event and looking
back, it's hard for me to believe the years
we've been here, the last Small Keels feels
like six months ago but I'm glad I get to
. celebrate my last event [as activities coor­
dinator]," said Furlow, a junior psychology
and sociology major.
Email: benjamin.blanchet@ubspectrum.com
Twitter: @BenjaminUBSpec.