Last semester, the Weather Vane published a story talking about the BSA House, a new location for the Black Student Alliance (BSA) members to host their meetings, host events, and even live. It was understood that the house mainly belonged to BSA or BIPOC people.
However, that was said to be a misunderstanding because the BSA House, which is actually called Sutter House, cannot belong to a specific club and be granted as a clubhouse because to have a clubhouse, the club would have to pay for it with their own budget which is something that they simply can’t afford.
When asked about Sutter House, Dean of Students Shannon Dycus says, “All junior and senior residential students at EMU can pursue the small group living option. At the same time, BSA goals are set by that student group with support from their advisor, Celeste Thomas.”
Although Sutter House was thought to be a BSA clubhouse, it does not actually belong to the club, which is something that even the members of the house came to learn recently.
Junior Nardos Haile says, “The house was presented to BSA because they wanted more diversity in group housing. It technically isn’t the ‘BSA House’ because clubs can’t own houses, so anyone can live in the house.”
There is a sense of disappointment for many BIPOC students upon learning that this house is not exclusive to BIPOC students. Junior Lene Andrawas says, “Personally speaking, I feel like it should be for BIPOC students to live there because there aren’t many spaces for BIPOC students to get to know each other. We want the house to be a safe space for people to hang out and get to know other BIPOC students on campus.”
A lot of students were under the impression that Sutter House was for BIPOC students to find comfort with each other and to create activities together, yet this is not the case. Sutter House is available for every junior or senior who wants to apply for small group living.
The house was presented to BSA as a group living option because the club was looking for more diversity for small group living which made many students assume that Sutter House was a BSA House.
Haile adds, “Although we’d love an exclusively BIPOC house, it just depends on what group signs up together.”
There is no BSA House, but a house that is being used to create more diversity when it comes to small group living, yet anyone who qualifies for small group living can live in what was known as the BSA House.
