By Kevin Santander
The Scene staff
A new student organization has formed to help black students at Forest Park connect with each other and make a difference on campus.
The Black Student Union has been meeting since Aug. 16.
“We don’t have a black student club,” said President Sia Killian, 19, a general transfer studies student. “We wanted to help communication between black students.”
The organization has about 40 members.
One is Ronald Thompson, 21, a general transfer studies student. He joined to get more involved in campus activities and to accomplish some goals.
Those goals include developing more space where students can play games or just hang out; and bringing back child care for students with children.
Thompson also would like to see Forest Park build and maintain a community garden.
“It would be a community service to give (vegetables and herbs) to those in need and the culinary arts department, if needed,” he said.
The Black Student Union is governed by a board that already has campus several activities planned.
This includes a Halloween candy sale, an event to raise awareness of mental-health issues and a Black History Month celebration with “A Night of Unspoken Words,” a photography exhibit and a “Throwback Night.”
“I want to have diversity in the club,” Killian said. “… I want to thank all the supporters of the Black Student Union, and let’s begin the fight for more student space.”
The organization meets from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on the second and third Wednesdays of each month in the Highlander Lounge. For more information, contact Killian at skillian6@my.stlcc.edu.