Since 1967, the Black Student Union has provided “social and academic support to black students attending UW-Platteville,” according to uwplatt.edu/merc/student.html. Today, BSU has provided a social network for black students who want to connect with people like them, and for those who want to learn more of where they come from.

Photograph by Kate Olsen
BSU students hang out before Monday’s meeting, where they enjoyed a movie.

“[BSU] gives me insight of issues that the classroom doesn’t provide,” Brittany Dupree, a sophomore speech communication major and vice president of BSU, said. “It’s a place where I can go that’s comforting, to talk about issues that pertains to me as an African American on a predominantly white campus.”

Carl Wesley, the director of precollege programs, Multicultural Education Recourse Center retention program and adviser for the BSU, has had a connection to the group since he was a student here. He has been the adviser for BSU for two years, and prior to that he was the president of BSU for four years.

“[BSU is a place] where they can go and feel like home,” Wesley said. “It provides them a place of refuge.”

BSU continues to provide a social and academic support group for black students, but also be a resource for the entire student body. Every academic year, BSU provides student activities for all students to attend, like the hip-hop nights, bake sales and water wars as a way to connect the campus community. As new groups come, new events are created to continue connecting the community.

Opal Dennis, a junior psychology major and the secretary for BSU, said that BSU provides a place where she can go and find out more about where she is from. Activities that BSU provides allows her to explore the “relationships between the different groups.”

“UW-P’s BSU differs in how it is about learning and growing rather than just fun events,” Dennis said. “What makes us different is desiring to change the perspectives about African Americans to change the society.”

BSU meetings are held Monday nights at 6 p.m. in 107 Ullrich Hall, and are open to all students. These meetings last about an hour and offer a place for students to discuss different topics.

“The meetings are informative and can have high adrenaline depending on the topic of discussion,” Dennis said.