BSU holds campus-wide panel on dating at a PWI

Black Student Union (BSU) hosted an event on Feb. 14, in the Frick Center to discuss dating at a predominantly white institution, or PWI, and how this affects dating for people of color. 

The organization held a panel and asked attendees questions like “Have you ever dated someone who was outside of your own race?” and “Do you think the dating pool is limited at a PWI?” 

BSU thought the panel would be a great way to have this conversation and make sure everyone felt welcome to share their thoughts and ideas. The organization felt that it was important for the discussion to be student-led so it didn’t feel as awkward as it would if it was held by a more authoritative figure. 

“We wanted to provide a space for people to be able to talk about what it’s like dating at a PWI,” said BSU President Raven Rhone. “It’s based on your experience alone and how that fits you.”

BSU put together this event to open up these conversations because they’re not often had, especially led by students according to Rhone. 

“You want to talk to students so that it’s more comfortable to say something. It’s definitely a more open space and easier way to talk to people,” said Rhone.  

One of BSU’s goals is to make conversations like this one more comfortable for people to have, providing a space where people can do that respectfully and have their ideas heard. BSU hopes that people from different races will be able to talk about cultural differences in a respectful manner. 

“We want black students here, but we also want people from all different races to be,” said SGA legislature Kaleb Goodlow. “One of BSU’s main goals is to eliminate the fear of talking about race in Americans.”

BSU aims to open up conversations about race to not only Black students, but to all students regardless of race to aid in getting rid of the stigma of race. 

“Psychological studies have said that Black households are more open to talking about race than white households. Some people fear that if you talk about race, that makes you racist,” said Goodlow. “Talking about race and cultural differences is what makes everybody them. I think it should be something that everyone should be freely open to discuss, and that’s what BSU is trying to do.” 

BSU hopes that these events and future ones will be able to break down racial barriers and get people to start having conversations that they might not have had before.