Vol. 20 No. 3
Cleveland State University’s Black Student Union will host the Unite and Prosper Gala on Friday, Oct. 12 in the Student Center Ballroom, SC 311.
Ashley Davis, BSU president, said Unite and Prosper is an event created in 2017 to “bring unity among the minority black community on Cleveland State’s campus.”
The BSU serves as voice to empower and uplift the black student body, BSU explains. Its goal as a student union driven by African American students is to promote events held by any African American student organizations and to establish a familiar culture and social environment that can be enjoyed by all students of all demographics.
With the black organizations not attracting enough participants to their events, it makes it hard for the organizations to provide students with the tools needed to help them succeed and possibly help further their careers.
Davis expressed that most black students at Cleveland State don’t know of the many black organizations on campus.
“People have been here for four years and didn’t know the Black Student Union existed,” Who said this. “It’s very sad.”
Last year, Davis explained, BSU was the only black organization that held events, so its goal this year is to help promote other black organizations and get them known own campus so black students can have a place on campus.
“Everyone wants to belong to something” Davis said. “We’re just trying to open up the window so people can be able to find what their niche, find something they want to do, or as a commuter school, to make friends on campus.”
Being that Unite and Prosper is a gala event, attendees should look the part; however it is not required, “We want to see people dress up, gala attire…our treasurer is wearing a turtle neck and a blazer, my dress has a drop back. It’s a thin line between formal and business casual,” Davis said.
Twenty-four organizations will attend the event, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, National Society of Black Engineers, Black Girl Magic, Black Law Students Association, Black Studies Elites, North East Ohio Young Black Democrats, Student National Medical Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
Tickets are $10 at the door; however, you can buy a presale ticket for just $7. Visit the Black Student Union Instagram page @CSU_BSU. The link to purchase presale tickets using Eventbright will be listed in the description.
In addition, BSU is now accepting committee chair applications. Interested applicants should apply on the BSU Orgsync page by Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. According to the BSU Instagram page, duties will vary based upon interest. Some areas of interest include, but are not limited to: marketing, event planning, program planning and development/fundraising.