Campus diversity mirrored in newest student groups
Published 03.31.2021
News
Student News
Two new campus organizations at Pennsylvania College of Technology – the Black Student Union and the One World Club – have been formed by students with a vision reflective of the institution’s diversity.
Black Student Union
A BSU had been on the mind of Tiana M. Rawls-White, an applied management major from Northumberland, since she transferred from the Culinary Institute of America in 2018.
“When I started, one of the first things that I did was look to see if Penn College had some kind of Black student organization. I was disappointed to see that we did not,” Rawls-White said. “Although I thought about starting a Black Student Union, I was not in the right place to take on such a great responsibility. I wanted to be able to give the club and its members my full attention and effort.”
It wasn’t until the Spring 2021 semester that she decided she’d grown into the challenge, and she talked with Black students to hear their thoughts on the idea.
“I wanted to develop a BSU to help provide a safe, supportive space for Black students to express themselves, their needs and concerns, and to provide an open space for all students to receive Black culture education,” said Rawls-White, who serves as the group’s president. “I also want to improve communication between cultures, help the community and inspire new inclusive ideas.”
Joining her as inaugural officers are:
For more information, email bsu@pct.edu.
The club plans to meet twice this month (3-4 p.m. April 13 and 27 in Room 105C of the Bush Campus Center (the conference room at CC Commons), then hold biweekly meetings starting in the fall.
One World Club
Formation of the One World Club delivers on an idea that Angelyvette Santana, a radiography major from Scranton, kicked around since last summer.
“I remember feeling really lonely my freshman year, like a fish out of water. I did not want to feel like that anymore and I did not want any other freshman feeling like that, either,” Santana explained. “So I decided to do something about it. In the fall, I talked to Sammie Davis (coordinator of diversity and student engagement) and she helped me with the details and then, after a couple months, the club was official.”
Officers assisting her as president are:
“The One World Club is an organization to provide support on human rights and discussions on topics like multicultural/intersectional issues going on today in the world,” Santana said. “The club celebrates not what makes us different, but what makes us unique. It does not matter what your race, ethnicity, sexuality or gender is; we accept all and support everyone.”
For more information, email oneworldclub101@pct.edu.
Black Student Union
A BSU had been on the mind of Tiana M. Rawls-White, an applied management major from Northumberland, since she transferred from the Culinary Institute of America in 2018.
“When I started, one of the first things that I did was look to see if Penn College had some kind of Black student organization. I was disappointed to see that we did not,” Rawls-White said. “Although I thought about starting a Black Student Union, I was not in the right place to take on such a great responsibility. I wanted to be able to give the club and its members my full attention and effort.”
It wasn’t until the Spring 2021 semester that she decided she’d grown into the challenge, and she talked with Black students to hear their thoughts on the idea.
“I wanted to develop a BSU to help provide a safe, supportive space for Black students to express themselves, their needs and concerns, and to provide an open space for all students to receive Black culture education,” said Rawls-White, who serves as the group’s president. “I also want to improve communication between cultures, help the community and inspire new inclusive ideas.”
Joining her as inaugural officers are:
- Vice president – Chanel A. Lopez, New York City, entrepreneurial Innovation
- Social media coordinator – Candra L. Diggs, Williamsport, applied management
- Treasurer – Madison Sickler, Meshoppen, business administration: banking and finance concentration
- Secretary – Tamaka Carter, Williamsport, business administration: management concentration
For more information, email bsu@pct.edu.
The club plans to meet twice this month (3-4 p.m. April 13 and 27 in Room 105C of the Bush Campus Center (the conference room at CC Commons), then hold biweekly meetings starting in the fall.
One World Club
Formation of the One World Club delivers on an idea that Angelyvette Santana, a radiography major from Scranton, kicked around since last summer.
“I remember feeling really lonely my freshman year, like a fish out of water. I did not want to feel like that anymore and I did not want any other freshman feeling like that, either,” Santana explained. “So I decided to do something about it. In the fall, I talked to Sammie Davis (coordinator of diversity and student engagement) and she helped me with the details and then, after a couple months, the club was official.”
Officers assisting her as president are:
- Vice president – Hannah M. Lilley, Williamsport, accounting
- Treasurer – Dessa D. Valisno, Williamsport, business administration: marketing concentration
- Secretary – Nestor Y. Ayala, Scranton, construction management
“The One World Club is an organization to provide support on human rights and discussions on topics like multicultural/intersectional issues going on today in the world,” Santana said. “The club celebrates not what makes us different, but what makes us unique. It does not matter what your race, ethnicity, sexuality or gender is; we accept all and support everyone.”
For more information, email oneworldclub101@pct.edu.