BSU Hosts Annual Kwanzaa Celebration

The Black Student Union (BSU) at Utica University proudly hosted its 36 th Annual
Kwanzaa Dinner on the Library Concourse, welcoming more than 150 students, faculty,
alumni, and community leaders for an evening rooted in African heritage, unity,
scholarship, and cultural celebration. The celebration opened with powerful drumming
and dance performances by the Utica Royalties, setting the tone for an evening of
culture and tradition. The Kinara Lighting Ceremony followed, with each candle
representing one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

This year’s program honored outstanding campus organizations for their leadership and
service including Women in New Direction, CORE, Voices of Latina, and Advocates in
Motion (AIM). Individual awards were presented to Kira Maddox and Dr. Clemmie Harris
for their exceptional contributions to education, leadership, and student empowerment.

Dr. Clemmie Harris delivered a powerful keynote address titled “How Can We Truly
Fight For Our Collective Future If We Don’t Know Our Collective Past?” Challenging
students to embrace intellectual courage, historical awareness, and intersectional
activism, Dr. Harris drew from the African principle of Sankofa and urged students to
“make good trouble” grounded in education, history, and global perspective.

Patricia Gorman, a Harlem native, former BSU President and Student Advisor, and
member of the Black Alumni Association, Class of 2020, reflected on identity,
leadership, and the responsibility of student activism across generations.

•  “Leadership is like stepping into the unknown with faith — what Tarot calls The
  Fool — while constantly balancing life like the Two of Pentacles. That balance is
  where growth happens,” Gorman shared.

Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by scholar and activist Maulana Karenga and is
observed from December 26 through January 1. The holiday is guided by the seven
principles, known as the Nguzo Saba: Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia),
Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose
(Nia), Creativity (Kuumba), and Faith (Imani).

The celebration featured a soulful culinary experience with tilapia, macaroni and
cheese, salad, barbecue and baked chicken, and cornbread, creating an atmosphere of
fellowship and cultural pride.

Karyse Jackson, BSU Public Relations Officer, offered closing reflections on the
meaning of the evening:

•  “In the midst of ongoing conflict and an often turbulent political climate,
  gatherings like this hold even greater significance. They ground us in our history,
  reinforce our identity, and remind us of the power we carry when we stand united
  in purpose, resilience, and hope. Tonight is a testament to the fact that even in
  the most challenging moments, our culture, our values, and our commitment to
  one another remain unshaken.”

The evening ended on a joyful and unifying note as BSU President Xavier Moore joined
Hilda Jordan of HMJ Consulting and former Utica College Dean Alane Varga, bringing
the Generation Z audience to its feet while teaching everyone how to do the Electric
Slide, celebrating culture through movement, laughter, and shared joy.