At Bowling Green State University (BGSU), the Black Student Union (BSU) is making its mark on campus, providing a place for students of color to be seen and heard. 

As members of the BGSU community, they continue to work towards building a campus community, advocating for equality, pushing for representation and demanding structural change.  

BG Falcon Media spoke with Tilmon Brown, a third-year student studying social work and Allegra Ni’Kel Sherrelle Ruhl, a second-year student studying English and sociology. Brown serves as BSU’s vice president and historian and Ruhl serves as BSU’s political action chair.  

“The Black Student Union is for Black students, by Black students. Here on campus, we are here to not only be a place for Black students to feel comfortable around people with similar experiences, but to also educate other people along with our own community, ” Ruhl said.  

According to the organization’s presence page, BSU was founded in 1969 and has remained a vital presence on BGSU’s campus for over five decades. Black students were facing underrepresentation on campus, limited support from the institution and were feeling isolated. 

In response, they worked together and created the BSU to form a student body that could address these issues and provide a space for Black students to belong. 

“We try to do events that not only teach useful skills, like financial literacy and other things like that. We also host events for members that help us build bonds as a group,” Ruhl said. “One time we did hide and seek, we have done line dance nights… we do fun things like that, but we also educate our community.”  

Brown and Ruhl both agreed that BSU’s presence feels needed on BGSU’s campus now more than ever following Senate Bill 1 (SB1) changes enacted on campus this summer.  

“We are responsible for bigger things now. It felt like we were being silenced, almost cut off,” said Ruhl.  

SB1 was put into effect in June 2025 and changed how public universities in Ohio operate, specifically limiting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Specifically, the bill prohibits “Any orientation or training course regarding diversity, equity and inclusion offices or departments,” according to Wright State University.  

“But I feel like it’s important that we acknowledge what SB1 is doing and we still give space for students to have somewhere to belong, even if it’s not school-sanctioned,” said Ruhl. “Just because something’s going bad for us doesn’t mean we get to disappear. We kind of have to show up again and again and again.” 

BSU’s annual Black Excellence Ball celebrated this past Sunday gave students, faculty and other on-campus organizations the space to be recognized for their impressive achievements at BGSU.  

“At the ball, we award people who have been serving the community. We have faculty awards, awards to student organizations and individual members,” said Ruhl.  

The event also showcased Black excellence through keynote speakers and performances from Black students and community members.  

“We will have Element and Sensational Ladies, two Black dance groups performing, just to highlight Black representation and success,” said Ruhl.  

The Black Excellence Ball is important to BSU because it allows them to showcase their student organization, while also recognizing other Black community members.   

“It’s important because recognition is important. Especially for minorities, the campus doesn’t really do a whole bunch as far as recognition goes… so we kind of have to do that ourselves,” said Brown. “  

This year, BSU decided who won awards based on applications, so Black students or faculty could apply to the awards they believe they are qualified for, but applications are no longer being accepted.

“We did this to make sure people who are being awarded actually care about the award and recognition and are not just going because their friend nominated them,” said Ruhl.  

Joining BSU offers students an opportunity to grow, learn and find their place within BGSU’s busy college environment.   

“I feel like it changes you as a person… before I came to college, I wasn’t really involved in a whole bunch. But then I came to college, got involved on campus, and it just teaches you so much. From people skills to working on a team to how to communicate properly,” said Brown.  

BGSU students can get involved with  BSU by joining their GroupMe page and attending events they host on campus.

“There’s opportunities for students to be involved… helping out with service opportunities. Also, just following up with our events and everything that we like posting on social media is another good way to get involved,” said Brown. 

Join Black Student Union, please visit this link.  

Learn about regulations under SB1, please visit this link.  

To join their GroupMe page, follow this QR code.