Marywood University’s Black Student Union focuses on promoting cultural and historical awareness of African American students and other minorities and it hopes to bring minorities with common goals and interests together in a safe and secure environment.

Cole Johnson, president of the Black Student Union, strives to be a vital resource for students who wish to join and take advantage of being a part of this micro-community.

“My job is really just to be an outlet for minority students and let them know that we can have a common unity for having the same understanding that most other students wouldn’t have at a PWI (Predominantly White Institution),” said Johnson.

“Obviously, we don’t have a lot of professors that are minorities, so having a student body that you can go to if you have any issues is a really big, key thing that we are trying to start for them,” said Zion Resto, vice president of the Black Student Union.

Prior to Johnson’s start of college in 2020, Marywood had already founded its Black Student Union. However, due to dwindling engagement, it soon merged with the Global Unity Club, another student-run group intent on promoting social diversity and cultural awareness.

While Johnson’s and Resto’s intention to revive the organization sits at an all-time high, like with any “new” student-run organization, they recognize the challenges of making students aware and getting them involved.

“Now, going into the spring semester of 2025, there are enough minority students to create an actual Black Student Union,” said Johnson. “[But], just being so new… it’s hard to bring a culture to something that’s never really been here before.”

“We typically reach out to everyone and anyone, and we’re just like, ‘Hey, we have this thing, if you want to come, come.’ Obviously, it’s really new, so we are trying to find more marketing, but we basically just reach out to people,” said Resto.

Both Johnson and Resto expressed their aspirations for the group, even as far as the days when they no longer walk Marywood’s campus.

“I just want it to be a safe space where minority students are able to relate to each other and be able to express their feelings about being a minority on campus because obviously, everyone won’t be able to see where you’re coming from and be able to fit in your own shoes,” said Johnson. “In five to 10 years, I hope we can look back and see that.”

“I hope that it really works for bringing new students in. I hope people see it and they’re like, ‘Wow, I feel safe at Marywood’… to help the diversity of the student body,” said Resto.

The Black Student Union meets Mondays at 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. in the chapel. For more information on the Black Student Union, follow on Instagram.

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