Independent student content

BG Falcon Media

Independent student content

BG Falcon Media

Independent student content

BG Falcon Media

Support BG Falcon Media!
As part of BGSU's One Day fundraising effort, every dollar you contribute to Falcon Media will go directly to helping us continue to produce quality content. Every dollar helps. Donate here
The BG News
Follow us on social
BG24 Newscast
March 21, 2024

  • Visiting Author: Sheila Squillante
    Last week, the visiting author, Sheila Squillante, presented the art of creative non-fiction at BGSU. Last year, her memoir came out. From Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA, Squillante visited BGSU, last week. Previously, she has published collections on poetry, but most recently, her memoir, All Things Edible, Random and Odd  was published in 2023. “I […]
  • Petrofiction Review: Oil on Water
    Here’s my review of Oil on Water by Helon Habila – a petrofiction novel which won The Commonwealth Prize and Caine Prize. For context, petrofiction stems from petroleum and fiction. A specific text that focuses on petroleum culture in political economics and environmental impact. Although Habila’s novel begins with a journalist investigating a kidnapping, the […]
Spring Housing Guide

Students gather Thursday to discuss the idea of the Black Student Union being separatists

The+Black+Student+Union+invited+students+to+discuss+ideas+concerningseparatism+and+privilege+in+the+Union+Thursday+night.

The Black Student Union invited students to discuss ideas concerning

separatism and privilege in the Union Thursday night.

On a Thursday evening in room 316 of the Union, approximately 56 students met to discuss an issue that was going around campus about their organization.

The event held by the Black Student Union addressed the issue of their organization as a separatists organization. A student leader within the University brought this issue to them and according to Political Action Chair Christina Steward other leaders thought that as well.

“We were under the impression that, that person was the spokesperson for a lot of other student leaders on campus who all thought we were separatists,” Steward said. “We were all kind of freaking out, wondering how many people thought that.”

That is what led to this week’s “Talk to me Thursday,” question: Are the Black Student Union separatists and why is it important to have minority groups at universities?

“It’s always been a discussion on whether or not BSU is relevant. As of late it has become more of a topic of discussion on campus,” said Vice President of BSU Sydney Howell. “We figured instead of letting people draw their own conclusion, we should just address it and give people a place to discuss this openly.”

Behind the closed doors of room 316, students and faculty of different ethnicities, genders and classifications discussed these issues. At times discussion became intense with students expressing their different views on the issues.

“It was a nice amount of white students and black students,” said President of BSU Greg Harrison. “We got to hear both sides of the conversation. I think it was really productive because people really took the opportunity to listen to what people had to say and gain an understanding of the other person’s perspective. I feel like we tackled a lot of challenging content, but in a way that we weren’t attacking each other.”

The discussion started at 8:30 p.m. and ended at 10. It touched on topics of racial and gender privilege, why minority groups exist and how they can facilitate this message outside of that room.

The topics and questions asked in the event were researched and written out by Steward.

“This was the ‘Talk to me Thursday’ that I researched the most because I was angry about it,” Steward said. “I wanted to make sure I was informed on the topics.”

Steward wasn’t the only person within the organization that was angry about the comments that were made.

“[The comments] were very hurtful,” Harrison said. “I put a lot of my free time into BSU, trying to create programs and initiatives that create dialogue for cross-cultural understanding. It’s hurtful and offensive and it makes me realize that these conversations need to happen and more often.”

Howell doesn’t believe that it is just a University issue though but that it is a nationwide issue.

“A lot of other universities talk about this as well,” Howell said. “We are not the only ones going through these issues. I think it’s easy to box us in at BG but these issues are broader than we think they are.”

BSU will continue to hold “Talk to me Thursday’s” every other Thursday in room 316 in the Union. The issues brought to BSU haven’t changed their future plans as an organization at all,

Howell said.

“In my opinion we’ve been trying to be inclusive,” Howell said. “I hope this gives people the opportunity to be open and to come and talk to us, but also to feel welcome at our events.”

Leave a Comment
Donate to BG Falcon Media
$825
$1500
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Bowling Green State University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to BG Falcon Media
$825
$1500
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All BG Falcon Media Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *