The Black Graduate Student Association at Indiana University has partnered with the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program, Women of Color Leadership Institute, and the Black Student Union to provide undergraduate students with mentors in IUB’s graduate and professional schools.
BGSA held its kickoff/meet-and-greet for the Mentoring Program on November 14th, 2012, and is set to hold its next program-wide event in January 2013. The meet-and-greet, facilitated by the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program in the Scholars Resource Room (Memorial Hall 007), was well attended and productive. Food was donated by Chipotle, music was provided by DJ KO, and most importantly, more than 20 undergraduate students were able to make connections with some of IU’s Black graduate students.
Mentoring Program coordinating committee Katrina Overby-chair (BGSA Vice President), Melody Barham-mentor liaison (BGSA Historian), and Carl Darnell-mentee liaison (BGSA Education Chair) began the event with introductions, followed with the significance of mentoring for underrepresented students at predominantly White institutions, and ended with a charge for both the mentors and mentees to put in the effort to make their relationships a success.
Any and all interested in assisting, participating, or contributing to the BGSA Mentoring Program may contact IU BGSA via Facebook or Twitter @BGSA_IU #mentoring
There is a concerted effort under way to increase the 4% representation of Black students at IUB to 8% as promised by the IU President McRobbie and the Board of Trustees. In preparation for the incoming masses of underrepresented students, student organizations like BGSA, Black Student Union (BSU), Men and Women of Color Leadership Institute, Multicultural Outreach Recruitment Educators (M.O.R.E.), and the Hudson and Holland Scholars Advisory Council, are actively establishing initiatives such as the BGSA Mentoring Program to support students of color at Indiana University Bloomington. The time for rhetoric has passed; if you want improve your situation and the situation of your fellow brothers and sisters, get involved.
“Tell me, and I will forget; show me, and I might remember; INVOLVE me and I will understand.” – as quoted by Mahja Zeon, speaker at the Rosa Parks Commemoration to Resistance 2012.
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Mentoring