BSU goal: to create Black atmosphere
D.C. Gudger
Photo by Peter Grant
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By GORDON MacCRACKEN
Of the Emerald
More than 15,000 students are presently enrolled
at the University. Approximately 400 or 500 of them
are Black. It is for those students that the Black
Student Union exists.
The Black Student Union (BSU), according to
BSU president LeFrancis Arnold, was established
at the University in 1967. Prior to that the BSU had
been connected with Project 75, a federally-funded
program.
The BSU separated from Project 75 in order to
become political; Arnold noted that funding of
Project 75 could have been cut off if the BSU had
become political while still connected with the
program.
The BSU’s goal, said Arnold in a recent interview,
is “To create a Black atmosphere on campus.” He
proceeded to point out that the BSU has attempted
and will continue to attempt to establish a political,
social and economic base on campus for all Black
students. Arnold also mentioned that all Black
students at the University, whether they be from the
United States or foreign countries are welcome to
participate in BSU affairs.
The money for the various programs and ac
tivities that are undertaken by the BSU comes from
ASUO incidental fees. Until recently, the president
and vice-president of the BSU held the only salaried
positions in the organization; the ASUO Constitution
made provisions that only ten per cent of funds
allocated to programs could be used for wages.
The BSU, however, went before the Fiscal
Committee of the ASUO Senate and asked that all
funds distributed to the organization be transferred
so they could be used for work-study jobs. The
request was approved and six paid positions in the
BSU were created — vice-president, office
manager, head secretary and three assistant
secretaries. Four people have been hired to fill the
positions. Arnold is now the only unsalaried BSU
executive.
Arnold explained that his job is basically that of a
co-ordinator — “I make sure everything’s running
right,” he said, noting that he is the one to take the
credit or blame for the BSU’s actions.
Presently Arnold, vice-president D.C. Gudger and
other BSU executives are involved in extensive
meetings to set up the organization’s calendar for
the next two or three months. Basically, said Ar
nold, “We’re planning activities to bring the Black
community together.”
“We need input from the people,” said Gudger.
“We hope in the future to get all Blacks interested
in the BSU. It must be part of their University
being.”
Gudger also mentioned that the BSU is “very
interested” in ASUO affairs. “It (the ASUO) has a
great deal to do with what goes on. We’re
automatically affected by the ASUO,” he said.
Gudger said that while the BSU doesn’t function
as a political party in ASUO elections, Black
students who are active in the BSU often run for
ASUO offices. Last year, he said, ten Black
students ran for the ASUO Senate. Nine of them
made it through the primaries, six of whom, ac
cording to Arnold, were favored to win their races.
Only two Blacks, however, actually did win Senate
seats.
Gudger went on to talk about the attitude toward
Blacks at the University. Most of the Black
students’ problems, he feels, are caused by a basic
tenet of human nature — fear of the unknown. Since
most University students are White and many have
had little contact with Blacks, Gudger feels that
Whites here tend to misunderstand Blacks simply
because of a lack of knowledge. To that end, said
Gudger, “We’ve got to branch out.”
Black Student Union meetings will be held every
Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the EMU. All Black
students are welcome to attend and take part. The
room will be posted.
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