BSU hopes to make an impact on students, community

De Pere High School has many clubs; many of those clubs are unique spaces for individuals. Some clubs have educational value – such as DECA, Mock Trial, and Women in STEM. Some are for fun, such as the Cheese Club, Thrift Club, and Scrapbook Club. And some clubs are culturally representative of our student body. One of these clubs is BSU, otherwise known as Black Student Union. 

The club advisor, Mr. Mohar, and its three co-presidents, Eric Gichobi, Erin O’Connor, and Kennedy Chandler, are in charge of all the events that BSU manages. Bake sales, pizza parties, and running the snack cart are a few of the BSU-run events. As first-time presidents, they are all set out to make a change in our community. 

BSU has regular meetings to see how to improve the atmosphere at DPHS and how to get everyone involved. In comparison to other clubs, BSU is a space for those who are under like circumstances and going through similar events in life to speak about those things.

 “The biggest priority for us is to create a sense of community for colored kids in De Pere because there is such a minority of us,” Eric said. “Being able to be around each other in a predominantly white area is really important.”

Kennedy Chandler, also a senior, said that having a group of people to surround yourself with is not only important for you, but for the community as a whole.

“It’s such a nice community we are building where people feel safe, and they can talk about anything that’s going on that they may not feel comfortable sharing in other spaces,” Kennedy said. “Having people that look like you when you don’t see them often is important because you can then share your similarities.” 

Although now widely known among De Pere students, BSU has faced many challenges in the past and still does today. 

“From a community standpoint, being taken seriously is a large challenge,” Eric said. “I think many clubs don’t, or didn’t, view BSU as a genuine club. It was viewed as a group of black people in a room.” 

According to Erin, with the help of their school-wide representatives, social media, and rising popularity, BSU is finally getting the respect and recognition it deserves. 

Another event that BSU members attend is the local African Heritage Convention, which goes on in February. This convention is a large get-together where the focus is placed on empowering and providing opportunities for young African Americans. Some of these opportunities include career exploration and job possibilities, which are a big deal for upcoming juniors and seniors. 

“To be able to get these opportunities right away and to have the idea of the future in your head already is very important,” Erin, a junior, said, “Getting set up for college and finding out what you want to do after high school is important, especially for minority groups.”