Khadijah Rogers acknowledges how difficult it may be for students who aren’t black to become involved in a predominantly black organization.

“To come into (the BSU) and be the minority, I think people would shy away. But we encourage it,” said Rogers, accounting senior and Black Student Union president.

This year’s BSU Unity Trip to Dallas has the largest percentage of non-black students in recent years. Out of 30 students going, 11 aren’t black.

Rogers said she believes this is because of the things students will be participating in during the trip, not because of increased promotion.

From Saturday, March 15, to the following Monday, students will attend an Erykah Badu concert, see the Potter’s House of Dallas (a six-sanctuary megachurch), visit the Brown v. Board of Education exhibit and the John F. Kennedy exhibit, view the Dallas Black Dance Theater Company’s Spring Fiesta and volunteer at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Center for Artistic Children.

The Unity Trip is about experiencing the art and culture of all different ethnicities, Rogers said, explaining that students of all races would enjoy a trip like this.

“If you were an art major or a communication major, for example, you’d understand the value of a trip like this,” she said.

She said she’s most excited about volunteering at the MLK Center because students will be able to bring something to the city instead of simply being observers. This is a new aspect of the trip, and Rogers said she hopes it will add something to it.

Erykah Badu is a neo-soul artist whose work sets her apart from most hip-hop and R&B stars. Her concert will close the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts Conference, a drama and speech competition. Loyola students aren’t participating in the competition this year, but Rogers said she hopes it will encourage people to sign up next year.

Members had to pay $75 to go on the trip, but faculty such as Edward Kvet, dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts, and Mary McCay, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences, volunteered to pay for a select number of students.

It’s too late to apply for the Unity Trip this year, but sign-ups for next year’s trip may begin as early as the fall semester.

Rogers said the BSU “(encourages) people to come to our organization. We have a lot of events, and we focus on rebuilding New Orleans.”

Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at [email protected].