BSA Political Affairs Officer, Mark Omenugha
Western’s Black Student Association (BSA) started Black History Month with performances and speakers from various black students. This year’s theme was Unheard Voices and saw many interactive booths set up in the University Community Centre’s Atrium. Afterwards, the executives from BSA introduced the different voices that students were going to hear from.
BSA Political Affairs Officer, Mark Omenugha says that the event was important for black students on Western’s campus.
“With this event we want to highlight the unspoken voices in the black community and all the different people around Western.”
As a predominantly white institution, black students are a minority at Western. Omenugha says that the association wants to highlight the diversity at Western.
Western Student and performer Mike Williams (right)
“The Black student Association and the members in it are very diverse and black is not a monolith.”
BSA Political Affairs Officer Khalida Elsadati, believes that exposure is important for the group.
“I think we so rarely get to use these large public spaces as the BSA and I think it’s one of the events that we get to make our presence known.”
Western student and attendee, Nathan Kennedy believes that it is important for students of colour to hear from their own.
” My Mom is from Somalia, so I’m mixed heritage. I think that it is a great cause, there’s a lot of things going on right now and I think awareness is huge right now.”
The association will have various events throughout the month of February to continue the celebration.
