Black student union reinstated on Lee's campus for the first time in five years
Nandi Newton, president of the Black Student Union, said she wants the club to be a space for people of color to feel free to express themselves.
Photo by Elle Thomas
UPDATE: An earlier version of this article quoted Nandi Newton as saying "I hope that this group is a place where people who are of color or black students, people who aren’t Caucasians, Asians or Hispanics..." This was a misquote.
The Black Student Union has formed once more this semester—with the intention of creating a community among African-American students at Lee.
Nandi Newton, president of the new club, is hopeful for what the group will contribute to campus and within the organization.
“I hope that this group is a place where people who are of color or black students, people who are Caucasians, Asians or Hispanics, can come and commune and talk about the tough stuff and just be a help by listening to one another’s stories,” Newton said. “Hopefully great relationships will come out of this club at the end of the day and more understanding. That’s the ultimate goal, just understanding.”
Newton had been planning for some time to reinstate Umoja, a black diversity club that went inactive in 2013. While she changed the constitution and name of the original club, she kept the same focus at the center: unity. This is the first time Lee has seen a diversity club that caters to black students on campus since Umoja.
Dr. Megan Moe, chair of the Cultural Diversity Committee, said Umoja went by the wayside five years ago when there was no longer anyone at the helm.
“[Umoja] kind of faded out of existence after their sponsor [Dr. Michael J. Laney] left the university,” Moe said. “And nobody really was able to step in and fulfill that sponsor role and encourage and inspire.”
Golden Madume, assistant director for Lee’s center of Calling and Career, was enthusiastic about the resurrection of the group.
“I think [the Black Student Union] is one that has been missing for a while,” Madume said. “It is good to have that platform to celebrate and engage with the topics and experiences and elements of the culture that are important to black students.”
Michaela Woolridge, a member of the Black Student Union, said she hopes the club will serve to educate students.
“This club is a light to the campus, to people who want to know more about the black community and who would like to be involved,” Woolridge said.
The group meets at 4pm every Friday, and a permanent meeting location is yet to be announced.
For more information about the Black Student Union, contact Nandi Newton at nwint00@leeu.edu.
