As people stepped into Oscar Ritchie Hall on Feb. 28, the warm hum of gospel music wrapped around them, filling the space with a sense of history and marking the final celebration for Black History Month. 

The event also served as a call for unity in the face of adversity, highlighting the importance of community and mentorship. Speakers emphasized the need for solidarity as Kent State groups might face potential challenges in the near future. Now is the time to celebrate before facing obstacles. 

Black United Students (BUS), in collaboration with the Kent State Alumni Chapter, hosted their final event for Black History Month 2025, blending food, music, raffles and profound words of wisdom. 

The evening highlighted the importance of perseverance especially in light of the potential federal funding cuts tied to the university’s compliance with the Dear Colleague letter. The letter, issued by the Department of Education, has demanded that all public universities cut funding for programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. This poses a potential threat to organizations like BUS.

A member of the Black Alumni Chapter, Silas Ashley, who graduated in 1974, gave words of reassurance and guidance to the students during uncertain times. 

“I hope you understand the diversity that we displayed here and enjoyed this evening,” he said. 

Ashley continued his speech with a recap of “phase one” for the evening that everything taking place tonight was meant to feed the soul. 

“We do all of these things and we have to integrate all of these other cultures, and as they like to say in Louisiana they become this big gumbo,” he said. 

Ashley concluded his speech with a positive affirmation, while also encouraging people to join the raffle and check out the DJ playing on the first floor. 

“It is all good,” he said. “And don’t let anybody tell you that it is not.” 

“Phase one” of the event concluded with some final words from Kent State Gospel Choir Director, Rodney Hubbard, telling everyone to take the messages of unity and spread it around campus. 

“We want this message to resonate throughout this entire campus,” Hubbard said. 

With an “amen” from the audience, one last gospel was sung for the night. He then asked everyone to join in singing a hymn with the Kent State Gospel Choir, which called for sisterhood and brotherhood. 

The event featured tables with other organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of Portage County and the Kent State NAACP chapter. Both organizations have a long-standing history of advocacy and civil rights. They offered signup sheets, information pamphlets, resources and ways to become involved. 

A representative from the ACLU located in Cleveland shared with students about a meeting taking take place in April, and efforts to push for an ACLU chapter at the university. 

After 7:30 p.m., the event turned into a party. With the transition of the alumni heading home and the college students staying, people gathered for the raffle and made their way downstairs to the DJ playing popular ‘90s hits. 

BUS’ Director of Programming, Nadiya Anderson, had words of encouragement just like the alumni of the evening. She said BUS will still remain, even in the wake of the political climate, and the organization will continue to stay at Kent State. 

“As an organization, we aren’t going anywhere,” she said. “The way the [Dear Colleague letter and Senate Bill 1] is being perceived is we aren’t going anywhere, thankfully.” 

Anderson is not sure what the future and future funding will look like for some other organizations at Kent State.

“I don’t know what the case is for other groups,” Anderson said. “So, in general, the only thing that would be affected really is our funding.” 

She also added that the change in funding could impact what future events look like for BUS. With less funding, it might mean less events or events looking different. However, there are other avenues to gain funding. 

“We may not hold as many events,” Anderson said. “We may have to go to our alumni or the NAACP for stuff like that.” 

She said she feels BUS as a group won’t be affected but that the funding for the organization will be. The matter of funding will look like the main fight not only for this organization but many others on campus. 

“BUS won’t be affected really, our pockets will be,” she said. 

The night ended with music and celebrations, while the alumni sat back and enjoyed their time, the students danced the night away. According to the Black Alumni chapter, it was a proper “Wang Dang Doodle Function.”

Makayla Jones is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].