Black United Students
IN A FLASH: "Black Is ..."
Black United Students invited students to express their thoughts on "What is Black to You?" by adding their words and a handprint to a banner.
![Banner for Oscar Ritchie Story Banner for Oscar Ritchie Story](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Screenshot%202024-02-21%20at%203.05.11%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=bs1HEzkBPdnjv7HGcpNBsOWqSdsKCYCN&itok=NkpWhhx8)
Oscar Ritchie’s Legacy Continues to Inspire
A key figure in Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ«'s Black History, Oscar Ritchie continues to inspire generations of students and educators.
![Julian Grimes, president of Black United Students, tours the May 4 Visitors Center. Julian Grimes, president of Black United Students, tours the May 4 Visitors Center.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/Screenshot%20%281%29.png?VersionId=1zP9Rqe6wxi8FmQXwFn4n.hMMrBxBb0E&itok=YoYHiKGU)
Moving the ‘BUS’ Forward to Maintain its Strong Legacy, Honor its History
Julian Grimes, president of Black United Students, one of Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« University's oldest student organizations, is working to maintain the legacy of the organization credited for starting the formal observance of February as Black History Month.
![Brandon Bell singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Brandon Bell singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing"](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/424889558_18213391864285931_3613958685451004576_n.jpg?VersionId=Ob93Z69RSM2l5p17URRGvtnpJQQfU6Ta&itok=cFIiXDlP)
IN A FLASH: Lifting Every Voice
A recent graduate lent his voice to an inspiring opening of Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ«'s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
A Nonstop Beat
Sonyea Moore, a sophomore Honors student from Twinsburg, Ohio, is currently pursuing two majors and three minors in the College of Arts and Sciences and is thriving while doing so. Holding a 3.9 G.P.A., Sonyea is following her interests in the humanities through majors in anthropology and Africana studies, along with her minors in English, creative writing, and history. While the workload of such an education is demanding, Sonyea explains it's worth it to study her passions.
![Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« students walk to and from class. Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« students walk to and from class.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/page/Students%20walking%20on%20campus.jpg?VersionId=8Way6w8BN3nI_T0TNZRaaADAT1ICv6CM&h=9c2070a3&itok=lzcdaoqZ)
University, Student Leaders Reflect on Whether George Floyd Protests Will Spur Sustained Change
University and student leaders share their personal insights into America's current unrest and whether protests will lead to lasting change.
![Tayjua Hines, president of Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ«'s Black United Students, speaks at a George Floyd protest in Kent. (Photo credit: Lisa Scalfaro, Record-Courier) Tayjua Hines, president of Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ«'s Black United Students, speaking at a George Floyd protest in Kent.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Tayjua%20Hines%20photo_0.jpg?VersionId=bi4EUJU9uOp0rs_Yw4bNym1i0ADVUZf3&h=2d3a234b&itok=rharCf77)
Opinion: Now Is the Time to Speak Up, Use Your Platform and Enact Change
Tayjua Hines, president of Black United Students at Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ«, shares this student perspective about racism in our country and says now is the time to enact change.
![Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., interim vice president of the Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/05.07.20%20Photo%20of%20Amoaba%20Gooden_0_1.jpg?VersionId=pRv3zljfPgeghooBOFkCyWZkEUFMXbCd&h=a62424a4&itok=nIQNho9b)
Opinion: Diversity of Protests Offers Renewed Commitment to Social Justice Advocacy
Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ«'s interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, and chair and associate professor in the Department of Pan-African Studies, offers her insights in current unrest in America.
![Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« President Beverly J. Warren and Vice President Alfreda Brown give the Diversity Trailblazer Award to Dean Tondiglia, director of public safety and Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« police chief.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/BOB_6757-web.jpg?VersionId=JAa7rI83NidD0Ljo9on3zCFVQ9pzH8nO&h=735bdc0a&itok=bjrPnPRt)
Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« Honors 2019 Diversity Award Recipients
Â鶹ÊÓƵ×îÐÂ×îÈ« University’s Director of Public Safety and Police Chief Dean Tondiglia was honored with the university’s 2019 Diversity Trailblazer Award for his years of promoting inclusion and diversity within public safety.