The Black Student Association (BSA) launched this year at Lasell University as a means to promote unity among Black students and allies through social and cultural events. 

Co-founders Claudine Heureuse Jules ’24 and Lynn Hilton ’24 wanted to create an organization that could provide Black students with emotional and intellectual support, while also educating individuals on issues impacting the Black community and ways to contribute in the fight for social justice.  

“My goal in starting BSA was to offer Black students on campus a safe space,” says Jules. “I wanted those students who are overloaded with every obstacle an opportunity to come to our meetings and events and not have to worry about everything on top of being Black.” 

Since the organization’s launch, she and Hilton have seen positive cultural changes on campus from both allies and members of the Black community. 

“We started this club to offer better opportunities and help one another network to achieve our goals,” says Hilton. “We wanted to give a group of people that has been labeled as disadvantaged a chance to learn together and unite in our excellence. It is important to me that we have fun but also become educated on things that apply to our futures in the real world.” 

The group has already offered events on financial literacy and hosted a Black History Month Gala at the end of February. Before the end of the academic year, BSA will host an “I Have a Dream” event, which will showcase Black students talking about their academic dreams and career goals, and will co-facilitate the end of semester Culture Block Party with Lasell’s Multicultural Student Union (MSU) and ALPFA chapter.