Two years ago, a town hall was led by Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) students at Grand Valley State University. The students at the town hall expressed that GVSU had been using deceptive ads to make the campus seem more diverse than it actually was, and did not have the support systems or infrastructure to properly accommodate the BIPOC student body.
Over the course of Black History Month, the Lanthorn interviewed BIPOC student leadership to see whether these trends still hold true today, and what the current experience is like at GVSU. Common themes that arose were a remaining desire for more University resources, mental health awareness services and more attention placed on highlighting BIPOC organizations and small businesses.
Students spoke on both the positive and negative aspects of their experiences. Many felt supported in the school’s Black community, primarily finding solace in student organizations. Additionally, many highlighted the many ways they believe the University could be improved to better accommodate and serve the BIPOC student body.
“My experience as a Black student on campus has been a mixture of both growth and challenges,” said Daniella Tshibangu, fundraising chair of You Beautiful Black Woman (YBBW).
During the 2024 town hall, many students spoke on the lack of Black faculty and staff at GVSU and its effects on their ability to succeed. Student SeLaih Artis stated that she couldn’t remember ever having a BIPOC professor.
Another trend that emerged was concerns over a lack of mental health services for BIPOC individuals. Tshibangu pointed out that for many young adults, college is the first time they are away from their families and communities, which means having BIPOC faculty and staff, including mental health service providers, is crucial.
Another issue raised was a lack of awareness surrounding BIPOC resources, student organizations and small businesses. Students like Kennedy Jackson expressed a desire to see more BIPOC organizations and student-led small businesses highlighted in GVSU’s advertising, newsletters and social media.
Jackson also expressed a desire to see BIPOC services and resources highlighted year round, not just during special times like MLK Day or Black History Month. Additionally, Kennedy emphasized uplifting the voices of BIPOC student entrepreneurs as a way of inspiring others.
“I think it would help us see that there is huge success in our futures,” Jackson said.
Another concern raised by students was that available resources are understated by the University. Like many students at the 2024 town hall, Black Student Union President Gemya Williams expressed that BIPOC resources are not highlighted as much as other services, and leave many students unaware of their existence.
Mainly, she emphasized a lack of awareness around the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the services it provides. Artis elaborated on this and explained that she didn’t learn about the OMA until another student told her about it. She also expressed a desire for there to be more resources outside of the OMA.
“Some students don’t even know what the Office of Multicultural Affairs is, where to find it or what it does,” Williams said.
Several students cited the low retention rate of BIPOC students at GVSU as a concern. Despite making up 11% of the GVSU population, Black and African American students have historically had the lowest retention rate of any other student ethnicity group. This trend recently changed in 2025 when Native American and Alaskan Native students had an 85% retention rate compared to Black and African American students who had an 87% retention rate.
Nonetheless, BIPOC individuals have and continue to be more likely to leave GVSU before graduating than other student ethnic groups. According to student testimonies during the town hall, many BIPOC students end up dropping out due to a lack of support and resources.
Two years on, Artis says engagement with the University’s Senior Leadership Team has been limited. She believes this is a good sign, but reiterates that it should not have reached that point in the first place.
“I can’t recall an experience where I’ve dealt with them (senior leadership) outside of (the) town hall meeting,” Artis said. “I would say it’s (the town hall) been mostly successful, but also we had to have a town hall meeting, and you don’t need a town hall if things are being addressed properly.”
