The buses have left, the hotels have vacated and the students are back in school.

The 29th Annual Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government brought 1200 students from 60 to 70 institutions from all around the country. The activities began Thursday and concluded Saturday evening with author and political activist Angela Davis.

The three-day conference’s theme was “Construction Before Destruction: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” and it featured speakers and workshops that focused on outfitting the participants with the skills to advance the black community.

Jeff Johnson, also known as “Cousin Jeff,” a regular on BET’s “Rap City,” charged students to change the world and end racism.

“Are we willing to create environments that build whole men and whole women?” asked Johnson, national director for America Votes Young Voter Project.

Jonathan Sprinkles, author and college speaker, addressed issues affecting black families during Saturday’s lunch, highlighting the unnecessary numbers of black children who grow up in fatherless homes. He said the community needs to strive to change this.

“It’s not your fault you were born into the situation you were born into, but it is your responsibility to get yourself out,” Sprinkles said.

Allan Williams, a student from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., said he was impressed with Sprinkles.

“He was able to convey a great message about making sure you have someone to model your life after, especially for black males who generally don’t have a father or an influential person to look after them, or even to teach them that they are not inferior,” Williams said.

The workshops gave the participants more in-depth lessons on various issues such as constructing good relationships, money management and understanding and accepting differences.

“The events here inspire unity with not just minorities but with all students,” said Doriean Stevenson, a student from the University of Tulsa.

Davis brought the activities to a close Saturday evening by outlining some of the problems in our society such as male supremacy, capital punishment and the lack of community. She told the audience that these are issues that need to be addressed not only by people of color but by everyone.

“There will be one day when the world will be different . and young people are supposed to take the leadership,” Davis said.

The organizers have been working on this conference since April 2005, putting in countless hours planning and arranging each event.

“This has been one of the smoothest running conferences ever,” said co-chairperson Thurston Dixon, senior in management.

The Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government will be held in Nebraska next year, and will return to Iowa State in nine years.