Frosh Take Over Reins of BSA

The largest class of Black first-years in recent memory has taken the leadership reins of the Black Students Association (BSA), promising structural changes that will make the group closer to the Black community both within and outside Harvard.

BSA president Kristen M. Clarke '97, who was elected on May 8, says the new board is "very energetic and enthusiastic" about fulfilling their goals.

"Our goals circle around three ideas: revamping, revitalizing and reuniting the organization," Clarke says. "We'll also be interacting to a greater degree with Black students in Cambridge high schools and colleges."

Former president Zaheer R. Ali '94 says that close relations with the Black community outside Harvard has been a constant but unfulfilled goal of the organization. The BSA's contact with alumni and community leaders has come only through "speaking engagements or advisory roles, and not under the guise of any structure," Ali says.

"Having a more inclusive outlook has always been a goal of the BSA, but every year we take it to the next step," Ali says, "Kristen's taking it to the next step by not only sustaining present connections, but also contacting non-student groups. I am confident she will achieve her goals.

The new board appears to be looking to add more structure, particularly committees, in order to achieve more of its ends. The BSA has already established a new committee to run a community service program, according to Kecia N. Boulware '96, the BSA's representative to the Minority Students Alliance.

But the personal bonds within the group are likely to be just as important. Board member and lectures coordinator Asia Y. Goodwyn '97 says the new board will be aided by the fact that they are all first-years who knew each other before their election.

"We have a very young board; we have a different perspective," Goodwyn says. "And the fact that we all know each other is nice... We know our own commitments and we can remind each other of things."

There are 143 Black first-years in the Class of 1997, a number that was reached with an especially vigorous recruiting effort by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. The number represents a significant increase from the 95 Blacks who enrolled in the Class of 1996.

The BSA has in recent years been an activist organization, serving as a leader among minority student groups. In the spring of 1992, the group distributed the "On the Harvard Plantation" flyer detailing charges of racism that shook the campus.

But the new BSA board is as concerned with outreach as it is with activism. Clarke says the group will work to "reunite with the Black community at large" by bringing together students with Harvard alumni, community leaders and politicians.

"We really want to increase con- tact with greater Cambridge...and with Blackstudents on campus," Goodwyn adds. "We're planninga newsletter, more meetings and informationalthings."

Rey F. Ramos '97, who is a board member and theBSA's Harvard Foundation representative, says thegroup will make efforts to publicize more of itsevents.

"We're planning on having more events duringFreshman week, and we're going to have acalendar," Ramos says. "And we're going to givemore benefits to members so people will feel beingpart of the membership is worth it."

The BSA will also work to boost interactionwith other campus minority groups, Clarke says.

Boulware says the organization will reach outto other ethnic organizations, in particularHarvard-Radcliffe Hillel and campus Asian groups.

"We've been involved in discussion groups withHillel. We'll probably the continuing that,"Boulware says. "And we'll be increasinginteraction with campus Asian groups;traditionally there hasn't been a lot ofinteraction between us.

Rey F. Ramos '97, who is a board member and theBSA's Harvard Foundation representative, says thegroup will make efforts to publicize more of itsevents.

"We're planning on having more events duringFreshman week, and we're going to have acalendar," Ramos says. "And we're going to givemore benefits to members so people will feel beingpart of the membership is worth it."

The BSA will also work to boost interactionwith other campus minority groups, Clarke says.

Boulware says the organization will reach outto other ethnic organizations, in particularHarvard-Radcliffe Hillel and campus Asian groups.

"We've been involved in discussion groups withHillel. We'll probably the continuing that,"Boulware says. "And we'll be increasinginteraction with campus Asian groups;traditionally there hasn't been a lot ofinteraction between us.