Dalhousie’s Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC) has officially opened its doors to not just its new location, but to a home.
“I don’t think about this as an office; I think about it as a new home,” said Anne Forrestall, senior leader with Student Services, at Friday’s ribbon cutting.
The centre, which was previously housed in the Student Union Building, has moved to 1321 Edward Street on the second floor above the Dal Multifaith Centre. (The space is the former home of the International Centre, which this summer moved to the new LeMarchant Place building.)
The new centre features a full reception area, lounge, coaching room, meeting room, study room and two computer labs to help support Dalhousie and King’s students of African descent. The centre is also open longer hours in the new building.
“One of the things I love is not just the focus on academics, but the social space as well,” said Forrestall.
The new building will allow for more students to make use of the centre’s services that include advising, both academically and personally, a writing and math tutor, and a safe space for students to spend time.
The centre also hosts events. Some of its upcoming activities include a finance seminar on September 29 and a career day on October 14.
“Culturally, it’s a great safe space,” said student Nzingha Millar, a third-year student studying at the University of King’s College. “Being able to come here, to connect, to share and to celebrate our culture helps us become better and stronger people that can contribute elsewhere in the school… This is really where I connected and made relationships that lasted.”
Oluronke Taiwo, Dalhousie’s Black Student Advisor, was integral in the design and setup of the new centre, from outlining students’ needs to even picking out the striking colours that give the centre a sense of home.
“We have someone here that can support them, academically and emotionally,” said Taiwo. She adds that the centre not only aims to increase the number of students of African descent at Dalhousie, but also increase their retention by supporting them right up to graduation.
Learn more about the centre at its website.