By Marrissa Ballard | Co-Editor-in-Chief
Clubs often provide a space for students to pursue leadership roles and explore interests that aren’t included in their studies. In starting the Black Student Union at Salve, Patricia Socarras hoped to create a place where students of color could have conversations that she feels aren’t happening anywhere else on campus.
The Black Student Union, or BSU, is one of the newest clubs and was created just before the end of the spring semester. “We did it in a weekend,” Socarras, now the club’s president, recalls. “I had the idea on Friday, Saturday I was writing the constitution, and on Sunday I submitted it.”
Socarras was inspired to start the union in an effort to help students of color organize themselves and discuss important issues. “We could have a place where we can voice our opinions effectively and not be worried about how other people will portray us,” Socarras says.
BSU meetings have included conversations about Colin Kaepernick’s protest of the national anthem as well as the recent shootings in Tulsa, A.R. and Charlotte, N.C. “We talk about how we can be symbols of resistance ourselves,” says Socarras. “One of the critical concerns we had when we founded BSU was that these shootings were happening and no one on campus was talking about them at all.” According to Socarras, the BSU gives students a space to talk about these issues and how they affect students of color in particular.
Another goal Socarras has for the BSU is that it will help fill in the gaps of black history that aren’t usually present in classes. “We want to discuss the different sides of truth that are not presented, and discover different icons that aren’t talked about, like Marcus Garvey,” she explains. “The goal is to empower the community so that everyone feels secure knowing themselves and knowing that there is a network for them to fall back on.”
Since the club is in its beginning stages, they are still working to figure out how the BSU will fit with Salve’s needs. “We haven’t had too many organizations like this, if ever,” says Socarras. “At the moment, we’re just trying to figure out our playbook.”
So far, that “playbook” includes a lot of plans. According to Socarras, the BSU will try to organize one program per month this semester, including events where the Salve community can meet and get to know the club. “We want to hold a barbeque outside of Wakehurst and invite the whole community,” Socarras explains. The BSU also wants to do community outreach programs with organizations such as the MLK Community Center.
Another element of the BSU will be participating in social activism, such as marches or poster campaigns. “I’m personally a big social justice person, so I’m interested in taking different organizations that deal with different facets of social justice and putting them together,” she explains. Socarras wants to create partnerships with other clubs on campus, such as the Environmental Club or the Female Empowerment Organization, to address issues such as environmental racism or women and racism.
Socarras emphasizes that the BSU meetings and discussions are open to everyone on campus. “My other goal would be facilitating conversation in a way that students realize that the Black Student Union regards everyone,” Socarras says. “Students of all different races should be there, especially the ones who feel like it pertains to them the least; those are the ones who need it the most.”
As for future plans, Socarras isn’t exactly sure how the BSU will take root at Salve. “At this point, I’ve kind of just planted the seed,” she says. “It hasn’t even sprouted yet.”
Even with her uncertainty, she is excited to see the club grow. “My first and foremost hope is that it is a safe space,” Socarras says. “I hope that it becomes a way that the critical concern of racism is discussed and taken care of on this campus.”
