Paul PeChapman University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted a special Black Family Reunion during Homecoming Weekend. The event featured a community dinner to honor the Black Student Union Paul Mayfield Scholarship Fund, celebrating the legacy of the late Paul Mayfield while also honoring the founding members of Chapman’s Black Student Union (BSU). The event provided an opportunity for current students to connect with those who established the BSU more than 50 years ago.
Reflecting on the BSU’s origins, founding member Emma (Gray) Salahuddin ’71 recounted the experiences that led to its formation in 1967.
“The inspiration for starting the very first Black Student Union at Chapman came from a student by the name of James ‘Jim’ West,” Salahuddin shared. “Jim was vocal about the harassment Black students faced in the city, where Black men could be stopped and questioned by police simply for driving or walking to a store.”
She explained that these experiences of exclusion and discrimination ignited a desire among Black students for a support system, prompting West and others to advocate for the creation of a BSU at Chapman.
As founding members began to research and express their wishes to establish the BSU, they encountered challenges.
“We soon learned that this process would prove to be quite an undertaking,” Salahuddin said. “In the beginning, our requests for serious conversations about forming a BSU weren’t given the attention they deserved.” This changed only after death threats were made against some of the Black students voicing their concerns. “It became evident that there was a real concern. It wasn’t until then that we were heard.”
Khyra Stiner ’25, the current president of the BSU, described the reunion as a very inspiring opportunity to honor the BSU pioneers.
“Meeting Emma and other founding members helped me gain a new perspective as to how new Chapman’s BSU still is, and how much of a lasting impact it did and still has,” said Stiner.
Salahuddin expressed her pride in how the BSU’s mission and values have endured and evolved.
“It is impressive to all of us founding members, especially our very first elected BSU president, Attorney John H. Sanders, how connected the BSU is to the Chapman campus community,” said Salahuddin. “We are very impressed with the current BSU Advisor, Misty Levingston, and supporting staff in making the mission of the BSU a reality. We can see that the current BSU provides fundamental cultural support, resources and information while fostering connections with other communities on campus.”
For Stiner and other current students, the Black Family Reunion represented more than just a gathering—it was a reminder of the support and community BSU fosters on and off campus.
“Meeting the BSU pioneers created the opportunity to be grateful for their efforts to pave the way for what BSU is today,” Stiner said. “I am honored to continue on their legacy and continue to build and strengthen the Black community at Chapman.”
Salahuddin shared advice with current BSU members.
“Stay informed about the availability of scholarships from the Black Student Union Paul Mayfield Scholarship Fund and keep track of the annual recipients,” said Salahuddin. “Make sure that a record of significant BSU accomplishments is maintained and accessible, and continue to foster connections with other communities on campus. Above all, never forget the cultural foundation upon which the BSU was founded, and always strive to maintain cultural excellence in all your efforts.”
As the reunion concluded, BSU members left with renewed purpose. “I hope attendees took away that affinity organizations like BSU have the power to hold a lasting impact on our lives,” Stiner said. “BSU gives students a space to connect with others who look like them and share similar experiences. I want attendees to see that BSU’s goal is to have a positive impact and space for Black students at Chapman to find comfort and community.”
With the reunion’s success, Salahuddin and the BSU’s founding members are hopeful for the future.
“In the future, it would be wonderful to see the Chapman BSU continue to grow in supportive memberships, maintain visibility as a source of cultural support, and gain greater acknowledgment as a source of Chapman alumni support,” said Salahuddin.
As a proud founding member, Salahuddin plans to remain connected to all future BSU executive boards and members, continuing to support the community she helped create more than five decades ago.
