Black Student Association

On November 12, 1967 a group of 90 African American students and 3 faculty members held an informal meeting in a small auditorium in the student union basement to discuss the campus climate and how it was affecting their collegiate experience. This meeting was the first of its kind. Students shared feelings about experiences in class and on campus, found others who are going through similar experiences, and met students they had always passed by on campus. Some students were in the same classes and had never spoken to one another.

The central question of the meeting was “do we need an organization that will represent African American students on campus?” After more informal meetings, these students began to feel a connection to one another and their shared commitment of graduating from the University of Oklahoma. This interaction gave the students a way of solving issues by coming together. The students quickly reached a consensus that this organization was necessary for students, as a single group, to thrive on OU’s campus.

Bylaws were drafted and on November 19, 1967, the Afro-American Student Union was officially recognized as an official student group on the University of Oklahoma-Norman campus. The fundamental goal of ASU was to promote a communal bond among students of African descent.

The first official meeting was held on November 28, 1967. At this meeting, students had concerns of how the group would be viewed. It was quickly agreed that ASU will not be a separatist organization. ASU was created to be an organization where African American students can fully identify. At that same meeting, the students and advisors spoke in depth about how ASU would not be a permanent solution, but it would be a helpful start for reaching these solutions.

Since its creation, the ASU has evolved and is now called the Black Student Association (BSA) while following the fundamental goal.