‘We’re going backwards’: the Black student unions forced to close on US campuses

Black student unions at US colleges are fighting to stay in operation as state laws targeting DEI initiatives threaten their existence

For Nevaeh Parker, the president of the Black student union (BSU) at the University of Utah, Black History Month is usually a buzzing time on campus.

The school's BSU hosts several events - kickback parties and movie screenings - throughout the month. The Black cultural center, where students would usually congregate and attend activities, would be full. And the month's crown jewel would typically be a conference at the college for Black high schoolers in the area.