“The Cookout: Poolside Edition”

By Raliyah Stubbs, Staff Writer

Music echoed across the pool deck as students crowded around the grill, balancing plates of food and escaping the afternoon heat during the “Cookout: Poolside Edition,” a Black History Month event on campus.

Held during Black History Month at The Wellness Center pool, the cookout brought students together for food, music, and fellowship. The annual campus tradition was organized by the Black Student Union (BSU) in collaboration with the Caribbean Student Association (CSA) and the United Greek Council (UGC), and the event served as both a cultural celebration and a space for community building.

“We just wanted to come together and have a celebration for Black History Month,” said Hope Smith, senior business management major and president of the Black Student Union.

Smith explained that the cookout is a tradition between BSU and CSA, was created to unite students from different backgrounds.

“This cookout isn’t a new event; it has served to unite students from all backgrounds for years,” Smith said the event is open to all students.

Beyond hosting poolside parties, BSU offers a supportive and inclusive environment for students.

“BSU hosts a lot of multicultural and social events for students on campus alongside creating a safe space for them to have their voices heard and immerse themselves in their culture away from home,” Smith said.

For Smith, serving as president has been very rewarding and impactful.

“My favorite part is planning fun events that students love and enjoy and then creating a new family with the rest of my e-board and incoming freshmen,” Smith said.

The cookout brought students together in a fun poolside setting.

Many students who attended the event felt that it was a success.

Benjamin Coley, a freshman business management administration major, enjoyed the event.

“The cookout was good, you know; I love how it was planned. It was well attended, the food was good, and I feel like they picked a good day, as it was very hot outside, so the water felt good. It reminded me of back home in the Bahamas,” Coley said.

Coley was happy to help do his part to make the event great by doing something he loves.

“I enjoyed being able to become part of the event because I was grilling. I like to cook, and it was good because everybody liked the food,” Coley said.

The event also provided an opportunity for social interaction.

“I met a lot of new people, so much that I’m unable to put names to the faces,” Coley said.

Coley expressed no hesitation about returning to this event in future years.

Coley also said he believes the cookout helped strengthen community and cultural pride on campus.

It was an event by Black people for Black people, and if you attended the event, you were able to see that. It felt exactly like what it was called, “The Cookout.” It was exactly as it was advertised, food-wise, vibe-wise, and music-wise,” Coley said.

Beyond food and music, the cookout highlighted the sense of belonging and cultural connection that such events on campus foster for many students.

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