The Black Student Alliance has been supporting incoming freshmen, people of color and all minorities on campus for almost 40 years.

Steve Muhammad, director of public relations for BSA, said the organization was founded in the late 1960s as the Black Student Organization.

“The Black Student Organization’s purpose was to organize and build better relations with ISU for black students,” he said.

Xavier Allen, president of BSA, said BSA supports undergraduate and graduate students as well as the faculty and staff.

“We are here to comfort the freshmen, give them support in their academic life and also in their daily life, be a mentor and approach the students of color and the minorities with a more personal approach,” Allen said.

Muhammad said BSA has high hopes this year. He said those goals include unifying the minority community by working closely with other minority organizations [representatives]; heightening awareness of the Black Cultural Center; raising the minority retention rate at ISU; working with the Office of Minority Student Affairs; and bettering the relationship between the university and the black and minority students by participating in Veishea and George Washington Carver Day.

Allen said BSA works closely with the African American studies department by sharing ideas and working on activities with the faculty.

“We are trying to publish Uhuru Magazine at least two times a semester,” Allen said.

Uhuru Magazine is a magazine of collective, informative and creative works about issues concerning the black community and other minority groups.

“Students could get a copy by attending the BSA meetings, or, within a few weeks, they could get a copy from a spot in the Memorial Union,” Allen said.

This week BSA is hosting Black Love Week, a week of activities that promote unity among the students. Muhammad said BSA is sponsoring activities such as seminars, a party and a soul food picnic.

Government of the Student Body Vice President Jamal White, who served as director of publications for BSA last year, said the main goal of Black Love Week is to promote unity.

“It is an opportunity for minority students to meet with others during a week of supporting each other and appreciating men and women,” Allen said.

Another service BSA offers to its members is free tutoring in math, computer science and English, he said.

BSA general assembly meetings are held every Monday night at 8 in the Memorial Union.

Allen said the group talks about scholarships for minority athletes and minority students, among other things.

“We talk about how to support the BSA and the other campus organizations we work with, and we talk about the campus activities we want to do for this year,” Allen said.

He said students interested in becoming members can come to the BSA office, Room G47 in the East Memorial Union Office Space, and pick up an application.