By JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
Tiger Media Network
One of the main purposes of the FHSU Black Student Union is to provide an environment on campus for students to speak on various topics and have a support group. The FHSU BSU hosts multiple events each semester for its students and welcomes everyone to attend any one of these events. The FHSU BSU will host its first-ever Black Student Union Ball this Thursday.
FHSU BSU Vice President Star Parham said attendees can expect multiple activities during the Ball.
“The Black Student Union Ball is an event with lots of activities. Some of these activities include free food, a dance, and a shoe contest,” Parham said. “Guests will be able to eat some good food, enjoy an assortment of music by our amazing DJ and BSU President, Danzel, and students are given the opportunity to enter our shoe contest for $5 for a chance to win a prize.”
Parham goes on to lay out some specifics for the event.
“The event is scheduled for a block of around three hours, but we just encourage people to come and go as they see fit,” Parham said. “There is also no dress code for this event. We want everyone to just come in whatever they feel most comfortable in.”
Participants of this event do not have to be a part of the BSU, but as Parham speaks for the club, “we would love it if they wanted to join.”
Students also do not need to purchase tickets to attend the event, but there will be a $5 charge if individuals are interested in entering the shoe contest. No RSVPs are required, but the BSU will keep track of people in attendance through scanning in on the corq app.
Parham said events like the BSU Ball strive to be an open space for BSU to give back to the community and put the organization out there.
“We have a range of students from different cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life, which creates an open and fun environment for us to put on an assortment of events, such as the ball,” Parham said.
Although this is the first time BSU has hosted an event exactly like this, they have hosted similar events, such as an outdoor barbecue in years past.
“The event this year is similar in nature, but we did move its location to the FHSU Memorial Union Ballroom and added the shoe contest,” Parham said. “We hope to keep this event going in the future, but may just add some new things each year.”
Ultimately, Parham believes that events like this benefit the students at FHSU and help to connect students further than the classroom because they offer an inclusive and relaxed environment with an opportunity to learn about other people’s cultures.
“We strive to be a safe space for any and everyone here at Fort Hays,” Parham said.
The Black Student Union Ball will take place from 5-8:00 p.m. on Thursday in the Memorial Union Ballroom.
Meeting times, future events, and any other general information on the BSU at FHSU can be found at their Tigerlink https://tigerlink.fhsu.edu/organization/bsu.
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