WKU is home to many different Black student organizations, including the African Student Union, the National Society of Black Engineers and Why Knot Us. These organizations help to foster community between Black students and help them feel more at home at a predominantly white institution.

Tyaha Woodard, president of the National Society of Black Engineers, said while being a Black student in a STEM field, she can oftentimes feel alone. 

“Joining NSBE, I really felt like I had the support that I could get through with this major,” Woodard said.

NSBE is open to all students with STEM majors, even those beyond STEM, with the main goal of making students feel more supported and with hopes of becoming a chartered organization, Woodard said. The organization had fallen off for a while, but Woodard’s goal is to bring the organization back up to numbers on campus. WKU NSBE can be found on Instagram @nsbe_wku.

WKU also has its own chapter of the African Student Union, which is a community of African students and those interested in African culture, Henri Aboah, ASU president, said. 

Students do not have to have African heritage in order to join ASU and attend its events. 

“We hold different events to highlight our diversity and culture,” Aboah said. 

Previously, an African fashion show was held by ASU, working with international students to showcase clothing with African print and clothing from different cultures, Aboah said. 

ASU is made up of students from all African countries, being inclusive to all. Currently, the union has around 25 members, with hopes to grow after being reorganized in 2021, Aboah said.

Even through connections with the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, Aboah said she still found it difficult to find students who shared the same connections to their roots as she does, so ASU provided those connections.

“I am very much connected to my African roots,” Aboah said, “It can be hard to be the only one.” 

Being not only a first generation college student, but also a first generation American, ASU helped Aboah to create relationships with students similar to her. Information on ASU events can be found on Instagram @wkuasu.

On campus, Why Knot Us is a male initiative, with a female co-organization as well, Why Knot Us Too. Jai Rowan, president of Why Knot Us, explains the organization helps to give Black male students a place to go to talk about things that may be difficult to bring up.

“The organization was started to give people somewhere to go with people that are like them,” Rowan said. “Where they can fit in a little bit more.” 

Why Knot Us also holds events with local middle schools and Black scholars, being mentors for young Black students. 

“We know that we would’ve wanted people like us if we were in their position growing up,” Rowan said. 

While the organization can help underclassmen with the transition to college, there is also a large aspect of professionalism throughout all students within the group, Rowan said. 

When inaugurated into Why Knot Us, members are dressed in suits on stage, and are given certificates of membership, making the event a large ordeal for the men involved, Rowan said. Inauguration happened this past fall semester, and most likely will not happen again until next fall. Men interested in joining Why Knot Us can contact Tijuan Neal at [email protected].  

“It gives us a home,” Rowan said. “There are guys in there that I know that I can go and talk to.”

News reporter Molly Dobberstein can be reached at [email protected].