A group of BSA members attend the Center for Multicultural Affairs back to school barbecue on the Sewall lawn. (Photo courtesy of BSA)

Recalling her freshman year at the University of Colorado, Nigerian-American Tayo Adeeko said that a simple knock on her door changed the entire course of her college career. As a part of the Black Student Alliance's (BSA) yearly effort to recruit black freshmen, three student representatives from the organization visited Adeeko to welcome her to the university. "They didn't call, they just stopped by to say hi," Adeeko said. "I felt like they really cared."

Now serving as the organization's director of finance while pursuing degrees in international affairs and political science, the junior considers BSA her second family and wants other students to feel that way, too. "Our mission is to create a community for students to feel comfortable in," Adeeko said.

While BSA invests itself in CU's black community, the organization provides a supportive environment for any student in need, which translates into a very diverse group. "I think it would be unfair and hypocritical to claim to be a welcoming organization but only welcome certain members of the CU community," Adeeko said. "We don't care about the color of your skin; we just want you to feel like CU is your home."

The alliance meets every other Thursday and also organizes activities such as dinner events, movie nights, formal dances and community service opportunities for students throughout the school year. BSA encourages its members to join other campus organizations and to seek leadership positions. "BSA has a big responsibility to let students know that we are here, we are active and we have a voice," Adeeko said. "The organization is a wonderful way to build your roots at CU, and our students often go on to do many other things."

The alliance also collaborates with many organizations, including the African Student's Association and the Black Greek Council.

More than 30 BSA members will attend the annual Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government, Feb. 14 through 17, 2008, at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. The conference will address issues facing black students on college campuses, a topic that BSA members regularly discuss. "We talk about serious issues that happen within our own community, and we stress good communication and knowing your resources," BSA President Obi Onyeali said. "I always want more people to come to our meetings because the more people we have the more helpful we become."