One of the goals of the BSU is to “forge and maintain the strength and unity of the black community.”
But new president Connie Iloh wants to go one step further than just maintaining a strong community.
“It’s really about – at the heart of it – family,” Iloh said. “I want this to be a family that stays together.”
Iloh, a senior communication and psychology major, has been a member of the Black Student Union for the past three years, chairing the group’s Black History Month committee for two years and serving as second vice president last year. She was also a member of the group’s freshman council during her first year.
Her prior positions of leadership helped ease her into the new role. Still, Iloh understands that being the head of one of the university’s largest student organizations, with more than 3,000 members, will be a demanding task.
“It’s a tremendous amount of responsibility, [but] I feel capable and experienced,” Iloh said. “I’m a little nervous, but it’s because I care [about the BSU] and I love it.”
Iloh said she has frequently turned to former BSU president Darla Bunting for advice on handling her new responsibilities. “She’s been a really good resource for me,” she added.
“We talk constantly,” said Bunting, who graduated earlier this year and is now with the Teach for America program in New Orleans. “Connie has really been one to reconnect with alumni.”
Bunting, who served as president of the BSU during the 2006-2007 school year, praised Iloh’s unparalleled commitment to the group. She said she has no worries Iloh will “give 100 percent of her time.”
“Connie has a great spirit and a passion for BSU,” Bunting added. “Not only is she a visionary, but she’s a great planner.”
Bunting recalled Iloh’s efforts as chair of the Black History Month committee as being “monumental.” She also pointed out that Iloh continued to stay involved in planning committee events, even after giving up her chair position.
For the upcoming year, Iloh sees an outstanding opportunity to create lasting relationships among group members. She said she wants to make sure members get to know each other personally, and she is hoping for a good rate of retention.
At meetings, Iloh is making sure students introduce themselves to one another, so people get to know each other personally, and hopes to keep members engaged by encouraging them to join committees and have active roles in them. The BSU has six committees – Black History Month, community service, finance, Hip-Hop Conference, marketing and promotion and social action – and Iloh wants to push members not just to join the committees, but to stay involved throughout the year.
Iloh is also working hard to get the word out about BSU. She created a Facebook profile for the group named Black’student’union Terp, where she has included the BSU’s website, time and location of general body meetings, list of executive board members and brief history of the group posted. Iloh said she is “constantly” updating the profile with news of upcoming parties, cookouts and other social events.
Student Government Association President Jonathan Sachs recently spoke at a BSU meeting centered on voter rights and registration, mentioning to the audience that it was the first student group meeting he visited as president. Afterward, Sachs called Iloh “very passionate” about the BSU.
“She’s a very dynamic leader,” he said. “She’s able to articulate her stance on an issue in a very logical way.”
Iloh hopes to attend graduate school at Harvard University. But even with her high hopes and limitless potential, Iloh remains focused on improving the BSU.
“Every year, there’s an opportunity to do better,” she said. “I love the BSU. I love the board. I love this year.”
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