Dalhousie鈥檚 Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC) has officially opened its doors to not just its new location, but to a home.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think about this as an office; I think about it as a new home,鈥� said Anne Forrestall, senior leader with Student Services, at Friday鈥檚 ribbon cutting.
The centre, which was previously housed in the Student Union Building, has moved to 1321 Edward Street on the second floor above the Dal Multifaith Centre. (The space is the former home of the International Centre, which this summer moved to the new LeMarchant Place building.)
The new centre features a full reception area, lounge, coaching room, meeting room, study room and two computer labs to help support 黑料吃瓜网and King鈥檚 students of African descent. The centre is also open longer hours in the new building.
鈥淥ne of the things I love is not just the focus on academics, but the social space as well,鈥� said Forrestall.
The new building will allow for more students to make use of the centre鈥檚 services that include advising, both academically and personally, a writing and math tutor, and a safe space for students to spend time.
The centre also hosts events. Some of its upcoming activities include a finance seminar on September 29 and a career day on October 14.
鈥淐ulturally, it鈥檚 a great safe space,鈥� said student Nzingha Millar, a third-year student studying at the University of King鈥檚 College. 鈥淏eing able to come here, to connect, to share and to celebrate our culture helps us become better and stronger people that can contribute elsewhere in the school鈥� This is really where I connected and made relationships that lasted.鈥�
Oluronke Taiwo, Dalhousie鈥檚 Black Student Advisor, was integral in the design and setup of the new centre, from outlining students鈥� needs to even picking out the striking colours that give the centre a sense of home.
鈥淲e have someone here that can support them, academically and emotionally,鈥� said Taiwo. She adds that the centre not only aims to increase the number of students of African descent at Dalhousie, but also increase their retention by supporting them right up to graduation.
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