Members of Iowa State’s Black Student Alliance rallied outside Parks Library on Wednesday to ask for help from students and administration in saving the Black Cultural Center.

The center, located at 517 Welch Ave., was closed in 2003 after “ongoing structural damage” reached a level that made meeting there unsafe for students, said Leonard Perry, associate dean of students and director of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Without the center, the black community hasn’t had a place to hold its yearly traditions, and its sense of community has been weakened, said Langston Stewart, senior in pre-business, who was at the rally.

There have been limited advances made by the center to reopen its doors, and there are no definite plans underway by the center or by the BSA to repair the damage or reopen the facility, Perry said.

The university has limited power to help, as the property is maintained by independent owners.

“The BCC is currently an independent facility and autonomous from Iowa State University,” Perry said.

Sarai Arnold, senior in speech communication, said the closing of the center has had a tremendous impact on ISU students and is something that should be addressed.

“To many Iowa State students, the BCC was a home away from home,” Arnold said.

For years, students who frequently attended events at the center affectionately referred to it as “our home,” she said.

“The Black Cultural Center reminded me of my roots, culture and upbringing, and the people there were part of my extended family,” Arnold said.

The center was not just for black students, but a place for all ISU students and members of the community to hang out, learn about the community’s history, meet others and attend special events, she said.

The center had two stated purposes: To provide a place where the Ames community could learn about black culture and people, and to serve as a public square where black students can follow fellowship, relax and make new acquaintances, Perry said.

The center was established in 1969 by a group of black students who believed there was a need for their identifiable presence on the ISU campus. To date, it is the only property owned by black ISU students, Perry said.

The BSA will be holding an open forum Thursday, Jan. 27, to discuss the center’s available options and voice its need for help and support in reopening its doors. There is currently no location specified for the forum.