Mississippi State University’s Black Student Alliance recently elected new members and prepares for the upcoming year. On April 19 BSA officers were elected. Those officers are: President Jermi (Danelle) Coleman, Vice President Jennifer Johnson, Secretary Shrez Odom, Treasurer Monique Brown, and Parliamentarian Sherman Green. They will begin their position this summer.
Current President Lynn Parker shares the various events the BSA participated in this past year.
“Back in the beginning of the semester in August, we had the State of the BSA Address,” Parker said. “We had Gospel Fest in November; we also did a Halloween Carnival in October.”
Parker also said that the BSA had an event every week during Black History month. This past year the BSA reached out to high school girls as part of community service.
“We had speakers come in and talk with them about being a lady and things that they need to know about college,” Parker said.
Stacy Roberson, director of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and adviser of BSA, said that MSU’s BSA is one of the organizations participating in this week’s community summit to discuss common issues on campus.
Roberson believes that BSA is a “vital source” to MSU’s campus.
“It identifies promising leaders that give back to the community,” Roberson said. “One of the things that it does is cultivate leadership skills.”
The BSA encourages leadership roles among its members.
“We actively push people to be involved in other things on campus,” Parker said. “We try to inform black students if there are opportunities for involvement with any kind of organization anytime we get any kind of announcement.”
Parker emphasizes the importance of the BSA for minorities.
“It provides an outlet for all people, especially minorities,” Parker said. “We focus on activities for minorities; because although MSU really does try and work for all students, it’s kind of hard to focus on everybody.”
“This is something for minorities or people who may be overlooked unintentionally,” Parker said.
The BSA welcomes anyone who would like to be a member to participate with them.
“The Black Student Alliance is not for just black people; anybody is welcome to become a member,” Parker said.