The Black Student Union made a return under new leadership from President DeAndre Russell and history professor Manu Ampim, who serves as faculty adviser.

After being inactive for two years, the BSU is back and ready to make an impact on the campus and community. The club has come back with a new mindset in order to maintain its relevance around campus. The BSU has been extremely active since returning to the scene last semester.

Russell said the BSU is “a movement back on the rise that is going to solidify African-Americans.”

The month of February was an important month for the club because it was Black History Month. But even through all of the events and how much the club has progressed in a short period of time it is still not completely finished forming and developing.

Currently the BSU is working out the kinks to get more African-Americans to come out and be a part of the BSU. So far, since its return, the club has been involved in a variety of events.

The BSU has been involved with transfer workshops along with scholarship events. The club is focusing on building a great foundation for the African-American community. They support that with events like movie nights on campus that show the history of African-American culture.

The club had a large buzz surrounding it before it officially became an active club on campus again.

The support of various faculty members allowed the BSU to move rapidly and elect student officers as soon as they could. In one of the earliest meetings that the club had last semester Athletic Director John Wade said, “Anything I can do to support you (BSU), you got my support 100 percent.”

President Russell wanted to make it clear that the club would focus on African-American history and not on hosting a multitude of events throughout the semester. As the BSU continues to progress President Russell is planning on starting a mentoring and tutoring program in the near future for anyone who is in need.

President Russell said the BSU symbolizes the strength of African Americans on campus and that they have more power than they believe.

The BSU was started locally in the Bay Area, which would explain why the club has gained the support from local community members. Different artists, along with the faculty and staff, have voiced their support for the club. Russell said some of the names of those artists are Bri Blue and Phoenix rising.

Slowly but surely the BSU continues to make strides in the right direction.  Under new leadership the club has new goals and a new focus, which they hope to continue to build off of.