(courtesy Black Student Alliance)
Vigo, a 20-year-old sophomore sociology major, said he decided to come to BSA�s event “Night of Soul” with his family, after he was invited by friends.
Vigo said that at first, being a minority at CU was difficult.
�I�m getting used to it,� Vigo said. �There are great organizations like BSA and football, which has been a great support system. I�ve gotten to meet people who have reached out.�
BSA�s Director of Communications Tsion Zergaw, a 19-year-old junior MCD biology major, said BSA�s purpose is to create a campus environment that inspires diversity and good academic standings, and creates a place to learn about black culture in America.
BSA hosts various events throughout the year like Black Love Week, and forms connections with the other Big 12 schools. BSA is a nationwide group. It has been at CU since 1969.
Zergaw said BSA hopes to promote diversity at CU.
�CU is a very non-diverse school,� Zergaw said. �I�ve visited more competitive schools and they are way more diverse than CU and have less people. Only a minute percentage of the school is non-white, but college is about how you handle your challenges. That�s what BSA tries to do in terms of promoting diversity.�
She also said many students who come to CU believe that the school is more diverse than it actually is.
�As a freshman [the lack of diversity] is a shock,� she said. �It�s not the school we thought it is. Having BSA around is helpful.�
Demi DeLoach, a 20-year-old junior international affairs and political science �major who is a delegate for the Big 12 Black Student Government, said some people from primarily black communities come to school in Boulder and are in culture shock.
�CU is not diverse and that is why we�re here,� DeLoach said. �We reach out to students that feel alone. This is a second home for a lot of people.�
Aisha Thurmond,�an 18-year-old freshman engineering major, said she is not a member of BSA yet, but came to �Night of Soul� after getting a Facebook invitation.
�I wanted to check [the event] out and see what it was like,� Thurmond said.
She added that as an engineering major, she has already seen the lack of diversity at CU. She said being a minority has been difficult so far.
Awet Yohannes, a 21-year-old sophomore integrative physiology major and BSA member, said BSA focuses on history and socializing.
�At the meetings, we talk about black history and what�s happening in the community and the use of the N-word,� Yohannes said. �It�s a way to meet friends, socialize and understand the community better.�
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