BSA aims to provide a community for Black students and educate on the culture.
Courtesy of BSA
By Peturla Scarlett
The Black Student Association (BSA) at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus aims to preserve and spread awareness about Black culture each year through events and conversations to enhance the student experience.
Kayla Lee, the club’s president, is currently a senior majoring in Criminology with a pre-law track and a Concentration in Recent Crime. After becoming a student in 2021, she joined a campus residential community program called Living Learning Communities (LLC) that focuses on connecting residential students with like-minded individuals.
Within that LLC, Lee joined the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Suites — commonly known as “King Suites.” According to the Housing & Residential Education website, King Suites is a program that “focuses on the lived and campus experience of our Black and/or African American residential student.”
Since the LLC often collaborates with other offices, Lee was eventually introduced to BSA. After that, “I joined the E-board right away as the Secretary and then this year I moved up to the president,” she said.
Recently the club held one of its biggest events of the year, The Ebony Ball. On Sunday, Feb. 26 from 6-8 p.m. in the USC Ballrooms, BSA hosted its annual event with this year’s theme being a Mardi Gras Masquerade. At some point during the festivities, Kristion Jackson and Jada Barnwell were crowned as royals to commemorate the night.
Courtesy of BSA
“We always do it during Black History Month,” Lee said while talking about the ball. “We’re bringing in a local Black DJ, we also usually do Black catering from Black local businesses…this is to integrate students with local Black businesses in the area.”
Although the club is focused on honoring Black heritage during Black History Month, its efforts aren’t just during the month of February.
“We do something every single week so even when it’s not Black History Month, we’re constantly doing events,” Lee said.
Through weekly meetings and scheduled excursions, the student organization constantly tries to spread awareness about Black culture and get others involved in the community.
“We’re always indulging people into our culture…the only event that is concreted in Black History Month is The Ebony Ball,” Lee said.
According to BSA’s Vice President Nathan Tout-Puissant, the club and its activities aren’t only for Black or African-American students.
“Inclusivity [is] a part of the BSA mission statement,” he said.
He explained that the club believes in sharing aspects of Black culture with everyone, not just individuals in marginalized groups.
The BSA and its mission are also for those looking to get informed and just participate in the culture because not many people get hands- on experience in that field,” Tout-Puissant said.
Tout-Puissant is currently a junior majoring in political science. After going to a few BSA meetings, he soon realized he genuinely enjoyed being a part of the group and later decided to explore the different positions in the club along with what those duties entail.
“I soon found myself occupying the position of vice president which has been a really fun experience, especially with a president as great as Kayla,” he said.
To better represent the club, Tout-Puissant says he tries to be as civically engaged as possible.
“I like to listen in on issues affecting the Black community within St. Pete and even within campus, getting more informed, seeing what procedures are needed to amend them, and just having talks with people to kind of gauge what’s happening and see if anything can be done on my behalf,” he said.
Courtesy of BSA
In response to recent limitations placed on schools and educators by local government, BSA has opened a forum to acknowledge different thoughts and opinions from students due to a growing level of uncertainty and confusion about potential legislations.
From a personal standpoint on the overall situation, Tout-Puissant said, “I find it a bit frustrating that a lot of great African-American literature is being taken away and certain things are being censored.”
As for the future of BSA, the club will continue to exist and is not affected by any restrictions because it is a student organization. Additionally, club president Lee, mentioned being a part of a committee planning to raise more awareness about what is currently happening within the Black and LGBTQ+ communities affected by the legislations being proposed.
“BSA and just OMA (Office of Multicultural Affairs) as an entire department is very on top of the current issues that we have and we always address them even before the university does,” Lee said.
Students who want to help the club can show support by going to meetings and participating in one of the many events BSA hosts throughout the year. Showing interest in the organization and its activities is the main way to assist them in educating and creating a safe space for everyone on campus.
“Being Black is something you always have to deal with…but if we can impact people in a certain sense, I feel accomplished,” Tout-Puissant said.
