Why do you want to be an officer in the Black Student Association?
I have been involved on the Black Student Association board my freshman year here at the University of Central Oklahoma. I have gained so much from this organization and i feel it is my duty to give back. I have been inspired by the officers that came before me and the officers that trained to do what I'm doing now. I recently won Miss Black University of Central Oklahoma and I owe a lot of my success to the students involved in the Black Student Association. This organization has taught me how to speak publicly, reach out to students, and be a true leader.
What is the ideal Black Student Association?
An ideal Black Student Association serves! There is no point in being a student based organization if we don't serve the students. BSA has yet to bring in the cultural aspects of the organization that we have promised. We need to show the student body the different cultures within the Black Student Association, because "black" doesn't describe us all.
What will you personally do to ensure a successful Black Student Association?
I plan to bring in events to show the cultural diversity of the Black Student Association and i would like to bring in a male pageant for the african american community on our campus. I have been to many pageants and event on the campuses of Langston University and OU, and I see how well it brings their african american community together. From experience I have found pageants to be uplifting and showcase the talents and knowledge of our African American community.
Why do you want to be an officer in the Black Student Association?
I have been a member of the Black Student Association for two semesters now and I feel like as a freshman, I did not get the experience I was looking for out of this association. Before I came to college I performed at a step show hosted by OU called the OU Stomp Down, while my team and I practiced some hours before the show, I saw a bunch of predominantly Black students dressed up in business attire. Later on I found out that the event being held was called the "Big Twelve Conference." After learning about the conference I knew for sure that I wanted to be apart of a University's Black Student Government. Through high school I always held a leadership role in some kind of way. I was a freshman mentor my sophomore year, a DECA Secretary my junior year, and a DECA President my senior year. Being a leader and being on a board is nothing new to me. Why I, Olivia Thompson, want to be an officer for the Black Student Association here at the University of Central Oklahoma is because I would love to help better the knowledge of diversity and help educate how important it is. As a student in college, I feel that it is very important to be involved in college in something your passionate about. I am very passionate about being an officer for BSA for the 2013-2014 consecutive year!
What is the ideal Black Student Association?
The ideal Black Student Association to me is an organization that helps educate their campus on diversity and about the Black culture. It is important that we educate our generation and future generations about our culture so that we shall never forget. I feel like BSA should be here to help us remember and to help us push forward through life to succeed as educated Black men and women. My idea of BSA is also about getting people involved, not only Black, but all races. BSA should be able to reach out to everyone, whether it is fun events, community service, or even study sessions. The Black Student Association is here for the betterment of our campus.
What will you personally do to ensure a successful Black Student Association?
As president, I will ensure a VERY successful year by improving the communication throughout the organization, being consistent with events, and motivating and educating the students on our campus to join us and to learn our culture.
Why do you want to be an officer in the Black Student Association?
I believe that I have the needed qualities to make this organization better and more valuable. I'd like to help build an organization where people can have fun in the process of discussing important topics in America, in Black America, situations overseas, and here at UCO. Also I'd like to help in making events for the organization. Events that are intriguing, fun, creative and beneficial to the members of the organization.
What is the ideal Black Student Association?
the ideal black student association is an organization where its members are learning about today's black culture and yesterdays black culture as a way to determine what tomorrows black culture will be like. It is an association that acknowledges black culture, supports it, and strengthens it. The members will come to learn, through meetings an events, about issues in their state and their nation and will be encouraged to speak freely and support events.
What will you personally do to ensure a successful Black Student Association?
Work to influence a positive atmosphere, in meetings and on the board. I will help to determine the plans of setting up events and meetings, and i will make sure every step of those plans are achievable and accomplished. I will help to make every member of the BSA feel welcome and will encourage them to support events and to tell others about this great BSA at UCO.
Why do you want to be an officer in the Black Student Association?
BSA has the potential to do incredible things for African American students here at Central and I think I can offer a lot in terms of my experience here. I have been an active member of many organizations since coming to UCO such as Students for an Accessible Society, SAFE, DRT, and UCOSA. From my time with these associations I have realized that some students don’t have all of the same resources available to them and some a lot of them being students of color lack a positive community of peers that encourage them through to graduation. I want to make sure that all of our students have the support that they need to succeed while also showing them new perspectives on being black in America.
What is the ideal Black Student Association?
The ideal Black Student Association is one that is a valued resource to all African American students on our campus. Even when BSA has been its most active I’ve felt that only a limited amount of the African American students on our campus come to meetings and participate in programs. They feel that BSA represents only certain African American perspectives when in reality it is here for everyone to share and learn.
What will you personally do to ensure a successful Black Student Association?
I would like to increase the number and variety of students present in the organization by facilitating thought provoking discussions on issues relevant to the African American community. Another area I would contribute to if chosen to serve would be to increase the presence of non-African American students in BSA. For BSA to be relevant and achieve our education goals on campus we must reach out to the entire student body.
Nolanda Bush
I would love to be an officer of Black Student Association. Being an officer of any group comes with great responsibility. I feel this opportunity would allow me to gain more leadership experience and challenge me in news ways. As an officer I would do my best to create the most promising Black Student Association possible.
I feel the ideal Black student association is one that works for the community. Black student Association is an organization where all people can come learn and create an atmosphere of comfort. The organization should touch on such aspects of community service, education, leadership, fun, and empowering others.
In order to ensure a successful black student association I am willing to commit my time and efforts to create an organization with staying power. As an officer I will help to plan events, get the community involved and make Black student Association a staple at UCO.
Why do you want to be an officer in the Black Student Association?
I love being involved with school activities. Since I have transferred to The University of Central Oklahoma I have been waiting for the opportunity to join a group that will open many opportunities to be involved around campus and I feel BSA is that organization. I want to be treasurer for this association because I am great at handling money and thinking of fundraising ideas.
What is the ideal Black Student Association?
The ideal BSA is a group of African American students working together to build up the campus, community, and also each other.
What will you personally do to ensure a successful Black Student Association?
I will do my best to respect others, help when I am needed and continue to promote positiveness among the group so that we make work together to reach common goals.
I want to be an officer in the Black Student Association because I want to further myself in school involvement and get out of my shy zone, and not only better myself but try in better Black Student Association as well. Also I want to take the challenge and experience something new and put my hard work, time and effort into something I’m interested in would like to have the opportunity to peruse.
The Ideal Black Student Association means to me a resource/organization of African Americans coming together to build a foundation and put on events and bring ideas and suggestion to the table. Also do it to the best of his/or her ability as well as give back, and help others, so not only a Black Student Association can help whose involved but it can help others succeed as well.
I would personally put my best foot forward be all that I can be and work hard to whatever there is for me to uphold the Black Student Association and ensure it stays successful. I will also help out in any way I can and make sure I take care of the priorities that are expected from me and make sure they get done.
I want to be an officer because I really love diversity and think that it is important that we help contribute to educating not only the university, but everyone in our community as well, about our culture and about who we are and what we stand for. I have great leadership abilities and many creative ideas that I would like to share with this association that will improve the organization's image. The BSA did lead up to my expectations these past two semesters and I want to be the one to take a stand and turn this association back around to the Black Student Association that we SHOULD be! I love to be involved and I know that by me stepping up as a leader, whether I become an officer or not, I can help improve diversity in our community.
The ideal Black Student Association to me is an association filled with not only passionate blacks, but passionate whites, Asians, Latinos' and more races willing to educate others about our culture. As well as the association providing functions and allowing the students and faculty to be involved with the school to get a better understanding of the association. It is important that we keep the school involved and motivated to join us in our movement for better knowledge about diversity.
To ensure a successful BSA, I will provide creative ideas, as well as my time to ensure that BSA is able to have a positive image throughout campus. I am also experienced in event planning. Being a business major, I know how to network very well. Recently I helped Brittany Wilson, UCO's Miss Black and Gold 2012-2013, with her stroll off event. Throughout that event I was in charge of emailing and booking fraternities and sororities to get on board for the stroll off. I was also in charge of getting the DJ for the event. Needless to say, the event turned out perfect with all the work that the event planning team put in! I am very creative with ideas and feel that the ideas for events that I have in my mind will definitely be a success to the association. I am hard working and willing to do whatever it takes to make events for BSA successful!!
Why do you want to be an officer in the Black Student Association?
I would like to be an officer because I believe that I possess the leadership and communication skills that are a vital part of an officer position. Specifically, I would like to be the special events chairperson because of my ability to plan and organize events. At Morgan State University, the HBCU I attended, I was exposed to a number of events that promoted cultural competence, unity, and social engagement amongst students that could be utilized at UCO.
What is the ideal Black Student Association?
The ideal Black Student Association functions to provide an example of unity among black students and those who support us; the ideal Black Student Association values serving our community and providing an environment where Black students uplift and help one another; the ideal Black Student Association provides a forum for the open expression of the political, social, and cultural views of Black students.
What will you personally do to ensure a successful Black Student Association?
Personally, I can ensure my dedication to meeting the needs of the organization and its membership. My desire to promote unity amongst students, along with my interest in promoting a positive college experience for Black students will be my primary goals as the special events chairperson.
I would like to be an officer to be more involved with the University, to learn and grow as an individual. Share ideas, help our student body be more involved not only with the school, but with each other.
The ideal Black Student Association is an organization that can relate to the student body. Not only relate, but, be able to listen to the needs and wants of the student body, as well as do for them. I believe the BSA should be a group of individuals who can be open minded, who understands, and has the determination and courage to act on whatever needs to be done for the students.
I believe the best way to ensure BSA is successful is to reach out to the people that made BSA possible. That would be the students, my job would be to reach out and listen to my peers, and be able to do something about it in return.