Tag Archives: Student Organizations

Student Org Spotlight: Black Student Action Association

The Black Student Action Association, or BSAA, was the first multicultural organization formed on campus, founded in 1967. Dedicated to increasing Black representation and creating a safe space for minorities at a predominantly-white institution, BSAA fosters its own community within Miami while striving to better the conditions of Black students throughout Miami at large. Members like BSAA’s Vice President Kam Little show us what an uplifting impact student organizations like BSAA have on Miami’s campus. 

When Kam walked into her first BSAA general body meeting, she wasn’t yet involved in anything and wasn’t sure what to expect. Right away, she felt like she was truly entering an inclusive environment. “I felt welcomed, no questions asked. Everyone had a very ‘what can we do for you’ attitude,” Kam said when thinking back on that first experience with BSAA. Since then, she has seen the impact of the familiar faces and space to talk about shared experiences BSAA creates. Everybody contributes to the betterment of the organization. Because of BSAA’s commitment and care towards its members, Kam went from taking the first steps of her involvement journey to becoming one of BSAA’s current executive members. 

BSAA hosts many different events on campus to advance their mission of promoting Black voices and identities. An event that Kam is especially proud of is the annual Black Town Hall. This is one of BSAA’s top events. At the Black Town Hall, members of the Black community have a platform to bring awareness to pressing social issues, as well as discuss how the community members can help uplift each other. Additionally, BSAA hosts social events such as the annual Homecoming, faculty and staff mixers, ice cream socials, and other events that foster a place for Miami’s Black community to come together and feel connected. General body meetings, professional development and advocacy events, and participation in university education panels allow for even more discussion of what it means to be a Black student at a PWI and how to pave the way for a more inclusive, accepting, and aware campus.

Multicultural organizations like BSAA are an essential component of Miami’s campus culture. They create spaces for students of diverse backgrounds to celebrate their heritage, shared experiences, and accomplishments, and contribute to ensuring that underrepresented students feel welcome and included on campus. As Miami continues to promote DE&I, it is important to uplift BSAA and similar organizations and support them in their mission to eliminate discrimination and promote Black pride, awareness, and consciousness.

If you are interested in learning more about BSAA, check out their Hub page or Instagram @bsaa_miami!

Winter Mega Fair 2023 Recap

One week ago, Armstrong Student Center was brimming with smiling faces chatting lively with one another. Tables with posters, free water bottles, and even a robot dog lined the halls end to end, and music of all kinds radiated from floor to ceiling.

This was the 2023 Winter Mega Fair.

Winter Mega Fair is an opportunity for students to find their place at Miami, specifically within student organizations. With over 600 student organizations on campus, getting involved at any point in the semester can seem overwhelming. At Mega Fair, organizations are conveniently grouped by categories so students can navigate their particular interests, or just peruse what organizations Miami has to offer. By talking one-on-one with passionate organization members and leaders, students are able to make their college experience uniquely their own.

This year, Winter Mega Fair hosted 125 organizations representing the categories Academics, Business, Career Development, Club Sport, Cultural & Diversity, Engineering, Sustainability, Performance, Greek Life (Fraternity & Sorority), Health & Wellness, Media & Publication, Political/Social Action, Recreation, Religious, Spiritual & Secular, Service & Philanthropy, University Departments, and Special Interest.

With performances from Dance Theatre, New Wave Theatre Company, Miami University Fencing Club, Stage Left, The Guitar Club, and Catholic Campus Ministry, students were able to see their favorite performance organizations in action.

Missed the event? Don’t worry 一 it’s never too late to get involved, and there are plenty of ways to connect with student organizations!

If you don’t know where to start, talk to a SEAL Ambassador. SEAL Ambassadors assist students looking to get involved on campus. If you know you want to get involved but have no idea how to go about it, a SEAL Ambassador will talk to you about your interests, passions, major(s) and minor(s), high school involvements, and more to help you explore all the options Miami has to offer.

If you have some idea of how you might like to get involved, visit The Hub. The Hub is a way to find organizations and events, as well as track involvement. Almost like a virtual Mega Fair, students can search for organizations by category, or look through upcoming events.

Finally, thank you to all of our student organizations who spent their Wednesday evening chatting with prospective new members. It is, after all, our devoted organization members who make Mega Fair possible. We look forward to hosting the 2023 Fall Mega Fair in late August!