This week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Khaylee Sands (junior, pre-physical therapy), President of the Andrews Black Student Christian Forum (BSCF), as she shared her experience as the BSCF president and what being Black means to her.
What are some of BSCF’s goals and what things are they doing on campus?
BSCF is for the Black students here on campus. Our main priority is the cultivation of our Black community. We aim to provide a safe space and social support within our club. Some of our other primary goals are to showcase our culture through the use of education and worship. In doing so, we are able to highlight the beauty within the Black community. Some of our recurring events on campus are Impact Vespers in University Towers every Friday evening and fun, but informative short courses during assembly time.
What is your role as President, and what are some of your future plans for this year?
My role as President is overseeing everything within the club, making sure everything runs smoothly, and that each sector has what it needs to succeed. I ensure that all of my VPs and their respective teams, as well as our other club officers, are supported with their projects, whether it be religious, educational, or social. I also serve on the Black History Month committee. There, I attend meetings and serve as a spokesperson for our club.
For the remainder of the year, we are trying to finish out Black History Month strong. We have our Black Like Me Comedy Slam, our banquet, and some other events to end out Black History Month. We also have some events centered around Women's History Month starting in March, and some other exciting things to end out the year, but no spoilers, so stay tuned.
What are some of your favorite memories of being part of BSCF?
Some of my favorite memories are from things that we do every year, but I really can't compare them. I can give you my top 5.
1. The Dating Game during my freshman year was really fun. It is essentially a game that BSCF puts on to play matchmaker here on campus.
2. Black Out in 2020. This event was put on by the social vice president at the time, Belissa Etienne. Black Out is a cultural showcase that had a 90’s/early 2000’s theme and had different talent showcases and performances centered around that theme. They had the event in all black and had neon lights to give it a really cool vibe.
3. The Tiny Desk concert this year was also one of my favorites. It highlighted people you don't really see in the forefront that often, including underrated artists here on campus, so that was really cool.
4. Caribbean Impact every year is definitely a favorite of mine. I feel like I might be a little bit biased since I'm part of the Caribbean, but it’s a great opportunity to worship and uplift Caribbean culture at the same time. But every Black History Month impact is a top 10 favorite for me.
5. My last one is probably our last banquet in 2020. I love the banquet because it's a time for all of our Black kings and queens to step out, dress up, and do something nice while having fun together.
What does being Black mean to you?
For me, there’s a certain confidence that comes with being Black. It's about being beautiful on the inside and out. It goes beyond our skin color and extends to our culture, personality, intelligence, and everything, it’s all-encompassing. Exuding Black excellence is an important factor about being Black. We are smart as a people, have a wonderful sense of loyalty, and set the pace, tone, and standard. Whether it’s fashion, music, or trends, we make waves.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.