The University of Alabama is home to over 600 clubs and organizations meant to enhance every student’s college experience. Because of the substantial number of programs on campus, there is a diverse amount of options for students to choose from.
The University also strives to incorporate many inclusive and safe spaces for African American and other minority students.
Alabama’s Black Student Union is an organization that focuses on being the voice for minority students in the effort to make the campus a welcoming place. According to the university’s student organization catalogue on My Source, the Black Student Union strives to be a comfortable environment for black students: “We serve our members by providing community service opportunities, mentoring relationships within BSU, and providing outlets for expression and discussion. We strive to address the issues that affect our community on campus, locally, and internationally.”
Farrah Sanders, a senior at the University, is a member of the BSU. “I occupied two separate roles on the organization’s E board. To me titles never mattered because I wanted to advocate for minority students on campus. What I enjoyed was talking with students and really creating an environment where they know that they’re heard by someone,” she said.
She goes on to explain that she obtained great leadership skills working with the organization and opportunities to interact with administrative faculty within the University. “It was one of the first leadership positions that I occupied and I got to branch out and grow in leadership to where I am now. Less of a public role but still advocating in meetings and within the UA system.”
Ashlee Woods, a junior attending Alabama, is also a member of the Black Student Union, as well as Bama Tutors for Service, the Pre-law Student Association, and The Crimson White. “I came from a majority white high school and we didn’t get a BSU until my senior year of high school. Being able to have a group of black students to lean on for support and advice was crucial to my transition,” Woods says about her experience within the organization.
She also speaks on her time in Bama Tutors for service: “I love working with kids and I’m passionate about education reform so being able to help kids get the help they need is really fun.” Woods says that her time working with The Crimson White has helped her lend a voice to the voiceless and improve her skills as a writer: “The Crimson White has helped me learn how to use my writing as a voice to others. I believe I’m one of two black females on the desk so being able to represent us in a field like sports reporting has been a pleasure.”
There are a multitude of opportunities for students to get involved and let their voices be heard on campus. These organizations can accelerate their growth as a person, while also building a comfortable community around one another to propel them forward in life.
List of Other Black Student Organizations:
- Future Black Law Student Association
- Black Business Student Association
- Black Faculty and Staff Association Ambassadors
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Black Law Students Organization
- My Mind Matters
- National Council of Negro Women
