Black Student Union
March 25, 2022
ASL panel highlights Black interpreters
90% of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are white, according to a 2018 report from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Last Saturday, a panel hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU) sought to raise awareness about the lack of interpreters of color and the challenges that they face. Karen Horvath, an interpreting instructor at GC, said, “As a profession, there is a struggle to recruit and to grow the diversity of the interpreters who serve the Deaf community. There is simply a lack of numbers.” The panel, titled “Through Our Eyes,” included six Black interpreters, all of whom...
January 24, 2020
#dobetterGC campaign responds to last semester’s hate speech
On Monday, the Goshen College Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion shared plans to roll out a hashtag campaign - #dobetterGC - and hold a series of campus-wide activities in conjunction with Student Life as a response to the homophobic and racist slurs written on campus last semester. “We want to roll out this hashtag campaign that encourages Goshen College to be the Goshen College that we say we are,” said Dr. LaKendra Hardware, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Zachariah Begly, a leader of Black Student Union, affirms the campaign as meeting a need in the GC community that...
February 8, 2018
Campus celebrates Black History Month with poet Ashlee Haze
Poet Ashlee Haze graced Goshen College with her presence this week in an event organized by both Campus Activity Council (CAC) and Black Student Union (BSU). The event took place at 10 p.m. on a chilly Saturday evening in the Umble Center auditorium. The night of poetry kicked off with an introduction of Haze from BSU leaders juniors Alhassan Barrie and Alia Byrd. Then Haze walked on stage to much applause from the people in the audience. Haze started off her set by giving a little information about herself and a statement about how she usually conducts her shows. “I...
January 18, 2018
Students Speak Out at MLK Coffeehouse
Following the tradition of years past, Monday morning’s second MLK Day event, the Spoken Word Coffeehouse, gave space for the Goshen community to listen to poetry and song from fourteen students of color, who volunteered to perform for the event. The event was planned by GC Black Student Union (BSU) leaders Alia Byrd, a junior elementary education major, and Achieng Agutu, a senior public relations major. When asked about the mentality behind the organization of the event, Byrd reflected on the importance of hearing the experiences of students of color. “The rest of the day is about listening to voices...
February 16, 2017
Barbershop Talk meets for the first time
The Barbershop Talk Series (BTS) met for the first time last week on Feb. 8 in the Union Building foyer. The goal of this talk series was to open up a space for safe discussion for minority males of the student body to voice opinions, experiences and concerns. Local men from the community were present, as well as several local barbers who offered haircuts and shape-ups for students. The BTS was concocted by Mitch Mitchell, associate director of community life. “The Barbershop Talk Series was prompted from my numerous observations, conversations and interactions I had with minority male students on...
October 15, 2015
The BSU wants you
The Black Student Union (BSU) is looking to become a prominent club on the campus of Goshen College this year. Led by first-years Alia Byrd, Lydia Beachy and Nashon Lora and sophomores A’Sean Street and Étienne Davis, BSU wants students to learn more about the group, starting by removing common misconceptions. For instance, Street made it clear that BSU wants students “to feel a part of BSU regardless of skin color.” “BSU is not just for African Americans,” Street said. “It’s for anyone who wants to learn more or just be a part of the club.” Street is not alone...
April 16, 2015
Students attend Caravana 43 panel in Chicago
On Saturday, April 4, five Goshen College students travelled to Chicago, IL to participate in a community forum, march and panel given by Caravana 43, families of the 43 missing Ayotzinapa students. Caravana 43 is travelling across the United States to share their stories and demand the return of the students and an end to U.S. military aid to Mexico. First-year Hannah Yoder and sophomores Zach Zimmerman, Anya Kreider, Mimi Salvador and Alma Flores all attended the events. In the evening, the National Museum of Mexican Art hosted a presentation given by Latinos from the local suburb of Little Mexico....
April 2, 2015
A new tradition begins: BSU Gala
On Saturday night, while a calm darkness fell over most of the campus during Earth Hour, excitement, laughter, dancing and music lit up the Leaf Raker. Members of the Black Student Union (BSU) hosted their first annual Gala and had transformed the Fraker into a fancy dance hall, complete with rose petals strewn across the floor, classy black and white balloons and romantic candlelit tables. A live DJ played music as students dressed in formal attire danced the night away. Just outside the Fraker in the Union building, tables were lined with wings, mini sausages, fruit, pies, veggies and cookies...
October 22, 2014
Black Student Union Hosting More Events
Goshen College is known for its many student-led groups on campus, and this year, there is one in particular that’s standing out: the Black Student Union. With its lack of attendance and support last year, Tyra Carver, a junior, is determined to make significant changes to BSU. “Last year there were events, but they weren’t advertised well,” Carver said. “People just didn’t show up. So that was our main focus this year. We made it our goal to bring not just African American students, but all students to all of our events as well.” Carver is the president of the...
October 20, 2014
BSU & LSU Talent Show In Review
Saturday evening, over 100 students streamed into Umble Center for the first-annual talent show co-hosted by the Black Student Union and the Latino Student Union. Acts ranged from song and dance to rap and poetry. Angel Reyes, a senior, was one of the emcees for the evening and has been leader of LSU in the past. “I think it was great gauging the audience after each group to see that they were just as impressed as I was with the performers,” Reyes said. A few of the performers were returning to the stage with new material after excellent debuts at...
April 2, 2014
Microaggression Photos
Black Student Union and Latino Student Union joined together to present the Microaggression Project last night at 6:30 p.m. in NC 17. The event was centered on the theme, “We too are Goshen.” Students from both clubs took pictures with microaggressions they have experienced before the event and posted the pictures around campus. There was discussion about the presence of microaggressions and how society can eradicate them.
February 19, 2014
Black Students Lift Voices in Story and Song
This Monday, the Black Student Union (BSU) led convocation to celebrate Black History Month. Members shared personal stories and reflections on growing up as part of the Black community. Antianna Terrell, Esra Heisey and Quinn Brenneke shared an interpretive dance to Kirk Franklin’s song “Chains,” highlighting the emotional power of the struggle of Black people throughout history to break free of their chains: slavery and racism. Next, members of the BSU told their stories. Trevor Emory described growing up in a biracial family without a father. As a child, he thought he was White like all of his friends. He...
January 15, 2014
MLK Celebrated in Annual Study Day
In celebration of the famous civil rights activist, Goshen College will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. all-school Study Day, emphasizing the principle's characterized by King's work on Monday. Prior to the Study Day events, the MLK celebration will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, when Goshen College and Hesston College alumnus Anthony Brown performs, "I Go on Singing: Paul Robeson's Life in His Words & Songs." The 90-minute performance features the story of an American hero and champion for peace and justice during the 1940's. On Monday morning, a community breakfast will be served at College Mennonite Church Fellowship...
February 2, 2012
BSU to help GC celebrate Black History Month
Black Student Union kicked off Black History Month on Wednesday with some educational entertainment in Westlawn dining hall. Diners watched a slideshow presentation featuring images of people and events throughout African-American history, paired with music. Each year, BSU plans a string of festivities for the month of February to help spark awareness and provide opportunities for engaging discussion about race. Next Friday, BSU will host a showing of the movie “The Help” at 7 p.m. in Newcomer 17, alongside Campus Activities Council and the women's studies department. There will also be a Black Heritage Happy Hour from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m....
October 26, 2011
BSU talent show raises money, awareness for Invisible Children
The Black Student Union (in congruence with Latino Student Union and International Student Club) hosted a talent show and dance on Friday evening. Over one hundred audience members packed into Newcomer Center 19 to witness the diverse blend of talents Goshen has to offer. The show, in addition to being a collection of musical and literary acts, was put on in part to benefit Invisible Children, an international fundraising campaign for the emancipation of child soldiers in Uganda. “The talent show was originally an idea that was addressed to MAO (Multicultural Affairs Organization),” said Bojana Jankova, a junior member of...