ECU's Black Student Union

The fastest growing student organization is hard at work for the community

By: Jenny Ayers

Posted: 10/10/06

Since 1998, the Black Student Union has been an active student organization on ECU's campus concerned with community service and empowering and educating ECU's black community. Its members have become successful leaders on the campus and elsewhere, becoming active not only in the school community but in and around Greenville as well.

In its first month this semester, BSU accumulated over 200 members making it the fastest growing student organization on campus as well as one of the largest. Every Wednesday, BSU meets in Bate 1031 at 5:30 p.m., where they discuss community service projects, fundraisers and other opportunities for their members to become active citizens of the community.

The purpose of this organization is to serve as a civic, community and cultural resource for black students and organizations at ECU. They aim to influence policies affecting black students in at ECU and promote the academic performance and growth among its members, ECU and Greenville.

The BSU at ECU is all about student involvement and interaction. Encouraging participation and discouraging apathy, the organization is really stepping up and doing a great deal to provide a helping hand to the community.

There are 10 committees within BSU that are all designed to foster participation and contribution through service.

According to BSU President Patrick Dixon, "BSU is building an organization of greatness by empowering students to excel in their classes as well as their communities."

The organization averages over 50 hours of volunteer work per week. This is accomplished through their maintain of Safe Haven Community Center, various fund-raising sales, and other volunteer work put in around Pitt County. In the past they have had fundraisers to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, homeless shelters and AIDS victims, to name a few.

BSU has many upcoming fundraising campaigns that any one can contribute to in one way or another. Whether it's money or a couple hours of your time, you too can help our community. This Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., they will be having a bake sale in Wright Place for breast cancer awareness, in which all proceeds, go to breast cancer research. They will also be participating in the GULU walk on Saturday, Oct. 28 on First Street at 9:30 a.m. to raise awareness for the war-torn Uganda. All money raised will go to the nation's children.

If walking and baking are out of the question, there's always modeling. Next semester they have planned their second annual AIDS benefit fashion show, where ECU students will model clothing to raise money for PICASO, an organization devoted to the fight against AIDS. This organization provides several opportunities and outlets for its members to become active members of our society.

ECU's BSU has received acknowledgement across the state and was the only non-ivy league school to attend the Princeton University Black Leadership Conference this year. As a very close-knit and bonded group, this is a great way to get involved on campus and plus, it will also help to beef up your resume. Dues are only $5 for the year with an active membership application, and they hold events regularly such as cookouts, parties, socials at the community center, and bowling for prospective and current members. For further info on BSU, please contact the president, Patrick Dixon at 328-4794, pid0506@ecu.edu, or eastcarolinabsu@aol.com.

This writer can be contacted at pulse@theeastcarolinian.com.