Black Student Union hosts banquet

STORY BY NICK McCOY
PHOTOS BY TEARNEY McGIVNEY
AUDIO BY ELLINOR COUCHMAN

Fort Hays State University’s Black Student Union hosted a banquet on Thursday in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The event was large in scale and saw numerous students and community members attend.

While BSU has hosted previous dances, this is the first time the BSU has hosted a banquet of this level. Because of this, it was very special to the members of the Union. 

“I’ve been in the BSU for a couple of years,” BSU Treasurer Chris Crawford said. “Just setting this all up and coming out here to support diversity is why we’re attending this.”

At the event, students and community members were free to help themselves to some food, including barbeque beef, mac and cheese, salads and toast. Attendees could also hang out and dance as music was played throughout the night. People also had an opportunity to participate in a Black History Month themed Kahoot game.

Aside from the food and festivities, some guest speakers also got on stage and spoke about their experiences as black students in Hays.

With Black History Month coming to an end soon, the BSU wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate black history, and to shine a light on diversity in Hays and here on campus. 

“Not many organizations really do anything to celebrate their culture,” BSU President Danzel Major said. “So, we wanted to put a spotlight on our members and black people in Hays, and talk about the issues they have.”

In addition to being a great opportunity for students to show their support for minorities on campus and to have a good time, the event was also meant to raise money for the BSU.

“We are very grateful for the money the school has given us, but we realize it’s very limited on what we can spend,” Major said. “So, it is a fundraising event, but it’s also really meant to bring people together.”