BSU Welcome B(l)ack Cookout kicks off Elon’s fall with unity, music and new connections
Elon University’s Black Student Union kicked off the fall semester with its Welcome B(l)ack Cookout on August 30, filling the Phi Beta Kappa Commons with laughter, music and a sense of community. The event drew more than 50 attendees and served as a warm welcome for new students while giving returning students a chance to reconnect.
Senior Maleah Proctor, BSU president, described the cookout as “near and dear to my heart.” She explained that the gathering helped shape her own journey at Elon and that she wanted to preserve that sense of safety and belonging for others as she leads the organization this year. “It created such a safe space and was such an important part of me starting my journey here at Elon that I wanted to continue that for other people,” Proctor said.
For many attendees, the event also set a tone for the year. Senior Tkai Wade, an Alpha Phi Alpha member participating in the Divine Nine councils, said the gathering gives new students a place to feel welcome and safe. He noted that the commons buzzed with hugs as friends and alumni caught up, highlighting the event’s role in building camaraderie on campus. Wade, who is living off-campus this year, added that events like the cookout help him stay connected with friends and support Elon’s inclusive campus culture. “The ability to have different parties — whether it be different races or ethnicities — to be able to come out and then show support for one another, it shows inclusivity,” he said.
BSU vice president Brianna Crawford emphasized the organization’s openness. She said the group aims to unite people across campus and cultures, noting that Black Student Union is “an organization that serves the Black community but is open and inclusive to everyone, no matter the event.” Crawford acknowledged a shift in how student groups are funded this year but stressed that BSU’s goals remain unchanged: to reach the community, foster growth and help the student body thrive.
As the event grew more crowded, attendees compared it to past years when the cookout featured a DJ and an inflatable obstacle course. Crawford explained that BSU has faced funding changes after the Student Government Association implemented a new budget model: a quarterly system with an $80,000 cap on the total amount student organizations can receive. The shift has required BSU leaders to plan with new constraints, a process they began in April.
BSU’s leadership remains focused on serving students and strengthening campus ties. Crawford said the team is adapting to the funding changes while continuing to pursue events and opportunities for the Elon community. Proctor added that the cookout’s success underscored the value of connection and inclusion, especially on a campus where many students may initially feel overwhelmed or unfamiliar with the Black community.
Elon’s status as a predominantly white institution makes moments like the Welcome B(l)ack Cookout particularly meaningful, Proctor observed. “It can be kind of intimidating trying to find your people, but coming to this event I see so many new connections being made. It’s a really beautiful thing to experience,” she said.
Summary: Elon’s BSU kicked off the fall with a popular Welcome B(l)ack Cookout, reinforcing campus inclusivity and community, even as student groups navigate new funding rules. The event highlighted the importance of safe spaces, cross-cultural engagement and ongoing efforts to connect students across disciplines and identities.
Additional context and value:
– The funding shift to a quarterly model with an $80,000 cap is a notable change that requires student organizations to plan more strategically and collaborate across campus.
– The presence of Divine Nine fraternities and sororities at events like this signals ongoing collaboration among campus groups to foster an inclusive environment.
– Looking ahead, this cookout could serve as a catalyst for more cross-cultural events that help new students acclimate to Elon’s campus culture while strengthening existing communities.
Logical note: The resilience shown by BSU in adapting to financing changes while maintaining the essence of inclusive programming reflects a broader trend in which student-led initiatives are increasingly designing activities that maximize impact within stricter budget controls. This balance between fiscal responsibility and community-building is likely to shape Elon’s LGBTQ-plus, multicultural and diversity-focused programming through the fall semester.