Cadence Laura
On Sept. 10, student organizations collaborated with one another for a bonfire night at the Campus Gazebo to provide a space for Black students seeking community at WMU.
Several fraternities, sororities and RSOs gathered together for a night of dancing, music, s’mores and bonding.
Iryn TJ, vice president of Leaders in Training the Youth (LITTY), explained the significance of creating a space for Black students to meet.
“On Western, we need more of our people to come together, so this is a good event for Black organizations on campus to have fun, eat and communicate,” TJ said.
Additionally, the event allowed students to network with one another, as well as organizations they may have previously been unfamiliar with, according to TJ.
TJ also explained how the organization assisted with becoming more acclimated to campus life.
“I’m mainly in a dominant Black community at home,” said TJ. “My organization helped me become more comfortable with talking to other people and talking to different races.”
Montario Hawkins, president of Iota Phi Theta, explained how the event sought to help students going into their first year at WMU.
“We decided to collaborate in this event because we just wanted to bring out a sense of community and just open it up to all the new and incoming freshmen, just so they can feel at home,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins also mentioned his experience with meeting people throughout his time on campus.
“Even though I’ve been here for some time, I run into a lot of new people every day,” Hawkins said. “So, it’s just good to know that we can bring a lot of people out to have a good time.”
You Beautiful Black Women (YBBW), an organization focused on creating a community for Black women to build strong and secure lifestyles, was also present at the bonfire.
Kriscia Whitfield, president of YBBW, explained how finding her student organization allowed her to become more comfortable with campus life.
“This was actually my first organization I joined my freshman year, and I am a senior,” Whitfield said. “I met friends, now my sisters, all through this organization.”
The organization, as well as the events it hosts, seeks to provide a safe space for Black women on campus, according to Whitfield.
Additional information on WMU student organizations can be found on the ExperienceWMU website.
