The Black Student Union’s 54th Annual Fashion Show on Feb. 29 capped off a month of programming celebrating Black History Month at UToledo.
Black-owned vendors collaborated with student models for the show and sold items during the event. Models also presented alternative forms of art, such as paintings and dance. The event was organized by Rylee McBride, the director of special events for BSU, and presented by emcees Majesty Ali and Cole Fullen, who kept the audience engaged with their excitement and energy.
This year’s theme was “The Four Seasons,” designed to highlight the resilience and strength of Black students throughout all change.
Each year, as part of the Fashion Show, the Black Student Union Scholarship is awarded to one or two UT students. This year, however, BSU president Christina Charley and vice president Shirrell Williams announced BSU is currently unable to provide the scholarship due to the federal upending of affirmative action on Jun. 29, 2023.
Under new affirmative action guidelines, “the university considers this to be an unfair advantage to a specific ethnic group,” Charley said. Currently, BSU and other racially and ethnically based organizations on campus are “fighting to ensure their members can receive the assistance they need to thrive in their college experience,” she added.
According to Charley, the university was given the choice to approve this change in funds or to decline it. UT chose to approve the change.
“Organizations that are targeted towards a particular race are at risk of losing not only the ability Models, emcees, and organizers of the Black Student Union’s 54th Annual Fashion Show celebrate another successful night. to reward a student with financial aid, but also their space on the campus as an organization in general,” she said.
The two student leaders ended their speech reassuring students they were still looking for ways to present the scholarship, potentially at a later date.
