President Ashley Hawkins grills up some grub for everyone at the Rally in the Valley.
Photo by Briana Gunter
On Tuesday, September 1, Concord University’s Black Student Union kicked off their semester with a “Rally in the Valley” interest meeting event. Without any awkward icebreakers, members, potential members, and other students who just happened to be in the valley came together and dove right into the fun and camaraderie. No time was wasted with the tedious task of going around and introducing everyone; current members welcomed potential members and all other students with open arms with a friendly game of kickball and free food.
The Black Student Union was originally founded on Concord’s campus in 1996 but was then known as P.R.I.D.E.—People’s Right in Dreaming of Equality. However, the organization hit a dry spell in 2008.
Not to worry; James Riley, a current Concord student helped revive the group in 2012. When he first came to Concord, as a transfer from WVU where he was involved with BSU, he realized that there wasn’t an organization like BSU anywhere on campus. Riley said he “called up a couple of people to see if they’d be interested,” and the rest is history in the making. He and those few others came together to create what would become a group of individuals that grew into a family. James served as the BSU president for three years and helped shape BSU into the diverse and community involved organization that it is today.
Members TahTeona Hall, Shelly Craighead, and James Riley pause to snap a photo and demonstrate the family-like atmosphere the BSU offers.
Photo by Briana Gunter
BSU is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing black culture and social diversity. However, to the members involved, BSU is so much more than just an organization. It’s like a home away from home.
Current president Ashley Hawkins said “BSU to me is a family that comes together with a common goal of creating equality and unity within our community. BSU is more than just an organization to me, it is my home that I share with people that I feel most comfortable around. It is a true definition of a brotherhood to me.”
Like many other members, including potential members that attended the Rally in the Valley interest meeting, Hawkins went to one interest meeting, and that’s all it took. In that one meeting Hawkins said she “got to experience a true brotherhood.” BSU welcomes everyone from any and all races and ethnicities.
This semester, the BSU plans to continue working with a tutoring/mentoring program in Princeton called SPARKS (Students being Positive and Achieving Recognition with Knowledge and Success). Hawkins says that BSU “does have a few other events up [their] sleeves but [they’ll] keep that as a surprise!”
The BSU meets on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM in the AB conference room in the Student Center. For more information on BSU and how to get involved looked them up on Facebook under Concord University Black Student Union or contact Ashley Hawkins at hawkinsa15@mycu.concord.edu.