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BSU kicks off Black History Month with Unity Dinner
Almost 70 Union College students, faculty, staff, and family members gathered in Sharp Academic Center Saturday for a Unity Dinner hosted by the Black Student Union (BSU). In addition to a hot meal, music, and socializing, the program featured both a celebration of academic achievements and a commemoration of Union student athlete Madison “Maddie” Taylor.
After a brief welcome address, BSU President Malik McCalpine invited the crowd to rise for the song known as the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Next, he introduced BSU’s co-advisors Dr. Karen Wright and Coach Chris Jelks as well as BSU’s other officers: Vice President DeAaron Robinson, Vice President for Public Relations Chris Thomas, Treasurer Andrae Johnson, SGA Liaison Tayden Mackey, and Secretary Maggie Heinrich.
McCalpine said BSU hosts events like the Unity Dinner to educate everyone on campus and make a “safe space to talk about very hard topics” that are not talked about often enough. He emphasized that BSU is not just for Black students, but for all of Union’s campus community.
Dr. Karen Wright then asked that everyone bow their heads for the blessing of the food. She began, “Father in heaven, we thank you for, first of all, bringing us together in unity. We pray that the time together will bring us closer,”
Guests were then welcomed to line up for a dinner of chicken, beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni & cheese, rolls, and a variety of desserts.
After everyone had made it through the line and had time to eat and socialize, the program moved on to the Recognition of Academic Excellence. Wright said that BSU felt it was important to honor the accomplishments of students of color because “we don’t typically have events where we highlight, specifically, our students of color that are top achievers in academics.”
She then called the names of Union’s students of color who hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and asked them to stand. Each student received applause as they stood.
Next, BSU Vice President DeAaron Robinson came to the podium to present a video montage he had produced in loving memory of Maddie Taylor. The video began with Robinson thanking everyone for coming to the dinner. He stated, “This is a big happy family, and we like to keep it that way.”
Robinson then moved on to the topic of the video. He said he saw Taylor as a “person who was very happy and just uplifting,” and he wanted to create a tribute representative of this. The video featured clips and still shots of Taylor with friends, on the basketball court, and with the track team. Robinson had invited Union students to submit memories to honor her. He and many other BSU members were close friends of Taylor’s when she tragically passed away in a drowning accident on Memorial Day.
The video ended with an image of yellow flowers against a blue sky. Many in attendance wore yellow shirts, as well. “Yellow was her favorite color,” Robinson explained.
McCalpine concluded the evening with a message of thanks. “I really appreciate you guys coming out here and supporting it, and uniting,” he said. “That’s what we wanted to do, that’s why we called it a Unity Dinner. So again, thank you guys, truly.”
Want to learn more about BSU or get involved? Here's how:
- Come to a meeting Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Sharp Academic Center. All students, faculty, and staff who want to support the interests and concerns of Black students at Union College are welcome to attend.
- Contact one of the advisors or officers.
- Follow BSU’s Intagram page at b.s.u_union. Plans for February include a rose sale fundraiser leading up to Valentine’s Day, multiple movie discussion nights, the BSU Pageant, and other ways to honor Black History Month. Stay tuned for updates!
