By Olivia Norton
Here at Southern Virginia University, African American students are making a positive impact on our school through the Black Student Union.
Many people on campus have heard of the Black Student Union (BSU). But for students who aren’t members, they might not necessarily know about what goes on in BSU.
Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Lea Mondesir (’25), President of the Black Student Union, to understand the Union better. Mondesir grew up in small-town Spring Valley, New York, and came to Southern Virginia on a leap of faith to pursue a business major with a psychology minor.
Last fall, the opportunity to be President of BSU was presented to Mondesir; she took on the position with the knowledge that she could push BSU to be more active at Southern Virginia University. As we spoke, she told me the vision and purpose of BSU.
The point of BSU is to articulate the way that we feel as the black community. We also want to bring awareness and have intellectual conversations with people on campus who may not be familiar with African Americans. I know that a lot of people, especially here at SVU, come from small towns where they don’t interact with our community. So it’s kind of a way to let us know that we’re not as different as we may seem. Despite our skin color, we are the same and we love the same. We are just a big family and we want everyone on campus to be a part of that.
Mondesir went on to acknowledge BSU’s goal: advocate for all students (not just African American students) and their well-being and needs while here at Southern Virginia. BSU is a safe haven for all, and ultimately, a family. It is a place where students can come to have hard conversations and fun times.
Through weekly meetings, BSU promotes opportunities for constructive discussion and social interaction. These meetings are held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in room 222 of Main Hall (and are open to everyone). Additionally, for Black History Month, BSU held a “Week of Melanin.” During the Week of Melanin, the Black Student Union held several activities promoting fellowship, love, and diversity, including a Women’s Empowerment Brunch. According to Mondesir, the Week of Melanin and BSU’s celebration of Black History Month, “was to showcase and commemorate the black lives that were lost and that are still here advocating for equal rights for all.”
As we continued speaking, Mondesir explained why Black History Month is so important to her.
“I feel like Black History Month is important because it commemorates those who fought so hard for us to have equal rights. At a point in time when slavery was rampant, we didn’t have any rights. We weren’t even viewed as people. So it’s very important to me to remember those who lost their lives, so that I can be here to speak today. So that I can lead young black men and women to know that they’re more than property and that they are more than someone that can be used for the way that they look or for their attributes or for their talents. They’re a person and I see them and I hear them.”
A great way to see and hear BSU is to offer your support! You can do this by going to the weekly meetings, asking questions, and engaging in conversation with BSU members. Just being curious and open minded, you can contribute to building a community of love, understanding, and diversity.
As our conversation came to an end, I asked Mondesir if she had any final thoughts for the students of Southern Virginia and she replied,
“I would just say BSU is a part of SVU’s campus. We are what makes SVU as well. We are a part of that. Just like how athletics is a part of it. Just how the poly club, all of that, we are a part of that as well. And we want everyone else to know that everyone is welcomed.”
To learn more about the Black Student Union, click here to view their Instagram. Or, email them at lea.mondesir@svu.edu.
Club of the Week: Black Student Union was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
