Coming to a new university is scary. Especially coming to a new university as a person of color at a predominantly white institution. The feeling of not belonging can lead to disengagement and a lack of school spirit. To address this, Penn State students have established organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers, the South Asian Student Association, the African Student Association, the Student Black Caucus and the Middle Eastern and North African Caucus. These groups were created to provide students with a home away from home and to foster passion and community amongst students from diverse backgrounds.
Student Black Caucus
Kenisha Brown is a fourth-year studying communication arts and sciences. Brown is the president of the Student Black Caucus and stated that when she attended a Commonwealth campus, she found community within the Black Student Union. When she came to University Park, she knew that she wanted to join the Student Black Caucus to continue her involvement in the Black community. Brown states that being a part of the Black community at Penn State is very important to her. Having open-dialogue discussions like the sankofas, the Student Black Caucus engages the community to unite and foster friendships.
“It is so important for people to find a space to see people who look like them. Ultimately these cultural clubs really just bring together community, gives people reassurance and inspires and allows people to find friends, connections and not feel alone.”
Kenisha Brown
Middle Eastern and North African Caucus
Mariam Suliman, a junior studying sociology, shared similar sentiments. Through going into her second-year serving as the president of the Middle Eastern and North African Caucus (MENA), she wanted to obtain leadership within the caucus to continue it to prosper. Mariam expanded on the fact that the caucus serves a crucial role due to its importance for Arab students’ belonging on campus. Mariam shared a personal story: coming to Penn State after taking a gap year when she graduated high school, she found herself feeling isolated from her culture and community. She followed by stating being a part of cultural and religious clubs at Penn State has fostered her sense of belonging and not feeling alone in her identity.
African Student Association
Vice President of the African Student Association (ASA) Barron Owusu, a third-year studying psychology, found out about the organization through a friend and later that day went to the meeting. He joined the organization for a deeper cause. He follows by saying ASA has been a strong platform for his advocacy efforts. Owusu, who also is the vice president of the NAACP on campus, mentions that the organizations he has joined helped him advocate for marginalized and low-income communities, something about which he is extremely passionate. He says that being a part of the two organizations also helped him advocate to eliminate the inter-racism between the African and African American communities. He wants to make an impact on campus and ensures he is making positive change here at Penn State (and the broader State College community). His passion has been able to shine through his involvement and he hopes to ensure that everyone has a voice here on campus.
South Asian Student Association
The South Asian Student Association (SASA) welcomes members from all students who are of South Asian heritage and also members who are not South Asian. Krithika Subramanian, a third-year studying applied data science, is now the president of SASA. She joined it her first year of college and just two years later is serving as the president. She wanted to obtain the position as she noticed how effective leaders can transform a community and members’ dynamics. She wanted to create a close-knit community where everyone could help support each other during their time at Penn State and beyond.
“I wanted to contribute and give back to the vibrant festivals and celebrations that are done in my community here at Penn State. I wanted to continue my tradition of service and engagement within the community.”
Krithika Subramanian
National Society of Black Engineers
The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) has people from all majors and diverse backgrounds. Through their study nights, engagement events (NSBE Olympics with other organizations and resume workshops) and social events (like their annual collaboration with the National Pan-Hellenic Council for a cookout at the beginning of the fall semester), they have been able to obtain outstanding membership. Nathaniel Ansu, a third-year studying industrial engineering, was appointed to serve as the conference planning chair. He found out about NSBE through the Multicultural Engineering Program Orientation (MEPO). MEPO serves as a crucial program to help incoming first-years from diverse backgrounds get acquainted to Penn State (and engineering) and find resources on campus that will guide them during their college journeys, such as NSBE. Ansu joined the club to be a part of a community where people who have a similar background to him are going through similar journeys. He got a leadership position within the organization because he wanted to create an impact that his role models within the organization had previously done.
“I like the environment and community. It is very energetic, very lively community where we are all trying to have fun while trying to get through this engineering degree.”
Nathaniel Ansu
All these campus leaders have stated that the organizations they have joined have helped them develop a community here at Penn State. Through balancing academics and professional engagements, the additional burdens of feeling like you do not belong can have harsh effects on students. Through these cultural organizations, members ensure that no one feels like they do not belong. These organizations help students feel connected to Penn State, and remind them that there are people here for you and there’s always someone to help you find your home.
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