Thoughts from the President

Who is the BSA?

Aneisha Davis

Hmmm…it seems like that is a question that has been on everyone’s mind. It seems like it is a question so many people think they have the answer to, but don’t. Let me stop before I start sounding like MTV’s diary...”You think you know, but you have no idea.” But to be honest, that’s the truth. So many think they know, but have no idea, I think I will actually start off by telling you who we are not. We are not troublemakers. We do not specialize in offensive gestures and we do not hold seminars on how to piss people off. Now my general disclaimer is, “If people get mad in the process of us doing what we need to do, then so be it. You can’t save the world and please everyone at the same time. It’s just not possible.” I think saving the world is more important and that leads me to who the BSA is in real life.

The Black Student Alliance, also known as the BSA, is the brainchild of a couple of students who were in Dr. Cynthia Fleming’s class one Fall. In this class we learned about women who had helped to shape the nation and had gotten no credit because of their gender. We learned about black women who could not get jobs or could not be the leaders of movements because they were black or because they were women. We learned about the strong women who persevered in spite of what they were up against. In my opinion, it was quite an inspiring class.

Well one day we were in class and Dr. Fleming came in and began to tell us about how she had tried to become interim head of the History Department and could not. Many felt that she did not get her job because she was a black woman, but that is still up for debate (not a solid debate on the school’s behalf, but a debate nonetheless). All I know is that I saw a black woman with tears in her eyes and it made me think about all of the women we had learned about that semester in her class. I remember her saying that we might see her marching outside of McClung Towers by herself because she could not find anyone to back her up. I guess it touched a nerve with several students, including myself, that black women still had to fight so hard to get what they deserved. What bothered me was there was no organization structured to back this woman up. Even if students agreed that what was happening to her was wrong, no one was organized. We decided that we would start an organization that would be the political voice for the African American students. We also decided that we would seek out people who would help us address the problems we had been complaining about since my freshman year and actually fix them. Which leads me to another one of my sayings, “There is no point in complaining if you are not going to try and fix the problem.” We quickly organized ourselves in time to read a press statement at Dr. Fleming’s press conference. We attempted to speak on the behalf of the student body addressing the problems of African American students. Let’s just say we were not well received. Actually, we were ignored.

Many people would get mad if no one paid them any attention, but it only inspired us. We decided then and there that we had to form a group and make it legitimate. This was decided on after the Fall finals of 2001 and by January 15, 2002, we were a recognized student organization. We had to work really hard, but I am so proud that we have done what we have so far.

To be honest, the BSA is a dream under construction. In truth it is an iconoclast’s idealistic vision of what the world would be like with no problems. That is why we try so hard to address what is wrong because I want people to live in a world with no problems and maybe I can help make it that way. Okay…wait, maybe I’m getting a little carried away. Let me explain a little better. An iconoclast is one who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions. An idealist is one who pursues his or her standard or model of perfection, excellence, or beauty.

Who is the BSA? We are a group that seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions in the pursuit of a standard of excellence. That is why on any given day you may see any of us standing on the library steps yelling about Affirmative Action. That is why you may hear of us drafting up a proposal that lists the complaints of African American students. That is why I, Aneisha Davis, have a problem with people painting their faces black. It is a tradition that interferes with my standard of perfection. Forgive me for having an opinion that is in opposition to the majority, but it is in the first amendment that I have the right to free speech. Hmmm...now where have we heard that before?

In truth, the BSA is also structured to have community service and provide other services to the campus. We are a younger organization that has yet to accomplish all of these goals and have had little time to focus on anything aside from the political. We are slowly coming together as a group and I am so happy.

Peace