The Black Student Alliance, a campus organization that serves as a voice for African-American and other minority students at Iowa State, has adopted a Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteering program.

The purpose of the program is to help and support minority freshmen, said Steven Muhammad, director of relations for BSA.

“The Big Brothers/Big Sisters program was designed to connect freshmen with upper class students who have common ground,” Muhammad said. “The upper class students can give support to freshmen, help them out on campus and answer their questions about their academic life.”

He said freshmen and upper class students are paired according to their hobbies, interests, majors and regional backgrounds.

“The retention rate is [low at ISU],” said Jacqueline Sowell, vice president of BSA.

“By getting the freshmen involved with school activities, by answering their social and educational questions, we can lower the [drop-out] rate,” she said.

Muhammad said many minority students leave after their freshman year because they cannot find the support they need.

“We notice that they needed help,” he said. “They left because they didn’t know who to talk to about their problems.”

Sowell said BSA is an active member of the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government.

“The council is a coalition of black student governments within the Big 12 who get together for a leadership conference in February,” she said.

She said other Big 12 universities, such as Kansas University, Kansas State University and Missouri University, have also adopted the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

Sowell said BSA participates in various educational, social and community service programs to get members involved and help freshmen. She said BSA is open to anyone who wants to help.

“Anyone who is interested in the needs or concerns of BSA can be a member,” Sowell said. “All they have to do is to participate.”