BLSA Wins Midwest Regional "Chapter of the Year"

The Law School chapter of the Black Law Students Association has been named the 2014-15 Midwest Regional “Chapter of the Year,” which is the third time in the past four years that the group has earned this distinction.

The award — which recognizes the chapter’s commitment to community service, professional development, and academic and social support — puts BLSA in the running for the national award, which will be announced next month. The Law School’s BLSA chapter won the national award last year.

“We are so proud of BLSA for the consistent recognition they have received for their work and dedication,” Dean of Students Amy Gardner said. “They bring important programming and discussions to the Law School community. This honor is very much deserved.”

BLSA Vice President Ethel Amponsah, ’16, said she is particularly proud of the work BLSA has done this year.

“We’ve really had our ear to the ground in terms of identifying the issues in the black community that we want to highlight,” Amponsah said, noting that BLSA has facilitated “some really engaging discussions” about issues such as economic development; “ban the box” legislation, which prohibits employers from asking job seekers about criminal histories; “stop and frisk” legislation, which aims to address racial profiling, illegal stops, and privacy rights; and the experiences of black law students.

“We see it as our mission to educate people and to give our members the opportunity to discuss these issues,” Amponsah said. “I think we’ve done an excellent job of putting our activist hats on.”

 

Student awards