Collegiate Times

Thank you Afeni Shakur for gracing our campus with your presence. I hope that you'll be back in Blacksburg again soon.

I feel sorry for Mrs. Shakur, but Tupac was a thug plain and simple.

Gee, Dude, do you think? The man had a "Thug Life" tattoo on his stomach. I think the point is that, despite being a thug, there were other facets of the man. No human being can be summarized with one word.

The "THUGLIFE" tattooed on Tupac's stomach was an acronym standing for his thoughts on life. It means The Hate U Gave Lil' Infants F*cks Everybody.

Dude!!! Have you ever seen professor Giovanni's "Thuglife" tatoo? Stop sterotyping people because of a tatoo. Tupac was the man. His lyrics were about stuff that was happening in the world thatpeople were too afraid to talk about it. If you don't know about his life then stop hating on the man.

How is having a Black Student Alliance not racist? If there were a White Student Alliance there would be chaos and a visit from the naacp.

Woah man don't turn this into something it clearly isn't. Ms. Shakur was a great speaker, and we were lucky to have her come here. Her work in communities and her philanthropy are an inspiration for all. It's only a shame that more people didn't come out to see her speak.

lets not forget that this wasn't purely a BSA sponsored show. It was co-sponsored with the Virginia Tech Union, VTU.

Because we are all sick of only black students being allowed to have a group of their own. The blind tech community who always preaches diversity (which is another name for racism because it puts race as the focal point)allows an organization called the Black Student Alliance. Honestly, if some white kids did that and called themselves White Student Alliance, they would be branded racists and the KKK and be banned from VT. Since this one is for black students, they can have a group designated for their race. Nobody is allowed to say anything because even though it is wrong to have a black student alliance, if anyone says anything they are labeled insensitive. We don't need a ex-thug dead rappers mother preaching anything. Why don't we invite Charles Manson's children or Ted Bundy's wife to speak? This is why VT is phoney. They preach diversity and allow a black student alliance because they are expected to and not because they want to.

Gosh Dude. Why don't you go transfer to UVA. You sound like you belong in that racist school.

"ashamed to be a VT student" needs to do their homework before saying anything negative about the Black Student Alliance. If you would have done any research on the organization you would know that its not only for black students. Any student of any race can join. They put on programs that all can enjoy. But since you are ashamed to be a VT student, why dont you just go somewhere else? I'm sure nobody will miss you if you leave.

I think the VT student is just saying they disagree with the bsa name. A name like Black Student Alliance may be open to everyone, but they sure don't promote it that way with the name it has. Yeah I am sure lots of people who are not black are just begging to get in that club. Of course anyone can join captain obvious...because if they didnt permit anyone to join they would not get funding from VT. If they did however WANT other to join, they would not have a racist name like Black Student Alliance. Why not just call it Student Alliance? Why focus on the black part? Others might feel more welcome to join who are not black.

Why can't people at this school be positive about something? And why are people so very racist? Is it me or does no one else no that the African American population is approx. 3%? So can we have something that can unite us and encourage us to achieve success? If your white and want to join BSA, I encourage it; I am Black and joined ASA, which is the African Student Alliance. If you wanted you could join an Asian club, or a lesbian club even though your straight....I say do you.

This is truly getting ridiculous. So many articles on Collegiate Times that have anything to do with African Americans has so much negative and racist feedback. I second what Rachel said...why can't anyone ever be positive? Afeni Shakur is a respected woman who came all the way here because she was invited to speak on UNITY!!! This was not made for racist individuals to analyze this into being some reverse racism against white people. FIRST OF ALL, if you were to read the constitution of BSA, it states that no one is excluded from membership because of their race...meaning had you wanted to join, you could go right ahead. SECOND OF ALL, The point of this article was to emphasize on Afeni Shakur's coming and what she was here for...it had NOTHING to do with Black people and their racist alliance. You're trying to start something out of a case that has no relation to your subject, 'Ashamed to be a VT student'. THIRDLY, If you feel so strongly about it and want to create a group of your own or even join an existing one ..no one is stopping you! https://banweb.banner.vt.edu/ssb/prod/hzsksorg.P_MakeList?genre=%25&gradonly=%25

I am so sick and tired of this. This article was about Afeni Shakur and her addressing the students at Virginia Tech. Yes, the event was sponsored by the BLACK Student Alliance but it was also sponsored by the Virginia Tech Union. This article did not have to do with race in any way except for the fact that Afeni Shakur is an African-American woman. Like my friend Rachel mentioned below the African-American population on campus is around 3 or 4% and the White population is around 70%. BSA does not discriminate against any race and the fact that you could take a memorable event such as this one and turn it into a race issue makes me sick to my stomach. Quoting ashamed to be a VT student “Because we are all sick of only black students being allowed to have a group of their own.” Who is we? Why don’t speak for yourself and stop hiding behind your opinion. You’re welcome to make a White Student Alliance. We’re not going to complain. Why is it so wrong to have a Black Student Alliance? Why can’t the few of us that are here get together a couple times a semester and have a good time. Afeni Shakur was the mother of a legend, Tupac Shakur one of the greatest rappers to ever live.

I am not sure if you came out to the event but I am assuming that you didn’t you would have noticed that there was a very diverse audience. White people were there, black people were there, Asians were there so it wasn’t like you weren’t welcome. I am not ashamed to be VT student and never would be if anything I am ashamed that people like you are part of our student body. The name BSA is not racist it is implying that the purpose of the club is to increase the awareness and appreciation of the Black culture to the University and our surrounding areas. They are trying to promote the Black culture to anyone yes I said ANYONE who wants to know more about it, who is interested about it, anyone who is ignorant to it.

All I can say right now (to whomever she was referring to) is "SHE TOLD YOU!!!!" HAHA

All I can say right now (to whomever she was referring to) is "SHE TOLD YOU!!!!" HAHA

Thanks Meriam for that enlightenment to such ignorance...As for the rest of you..know what you're talking about before you anonymously post on the site...thanks!!!!!

Thanks Meriam for that enlightenment to such ignorance...As for the rest of you..know what you're talking about before you anonymously post on the site...thanks!!!!!

Wow. It is ridiculous how ignorant some of the comments left on here are. Diversity is simply another word for racism? Please do your research, ashamed to be a VT student. I'm ashamed you go to the same school as me. Diversity is not simply based on race. It reaches out to religion, personal life preferences, & simply stated, different ways of thinking. Had you gone to see Ms. Shakur speak, you would know that she came to speak about nonviolence, a message that transcends race. Perhaps you should attend an event sponsored by the Black Student Alliance. Open up your mind before you cast such a an incorrect judgement. I am not black and have never felt more welcome in any group on this campus as I have with the Black Student Alliance.

There are numerous organizations seeking to recognize the importance of a community both to its own people and to VT. It’s obvious that you didn’t take the time to discover what the organization is about. The group ISN’T limited to blacks - the title merely reflects its PURPOSE, which is to uplift, educate and unite. With your mindset, VT wouldn't even offer classes in cultural education because for some reason, you perceive education as racism. Clearly, you aren’t the type of person who wishes to be educated, which is evident through your blatantly false statements. If you want to start a White Student Alliance to capitalize upon the important contributions of the race and to educate, please do so. It seems like a lot of people like you ASSUME that the administration would have some problem with this when in actuality, you probably have never even asked. Blacks having pride and a willingness to share that pride with others doesn’t constitute racism in the least. I don’t see you complaining about other organizations with the same purposes, like Asian American Student Union or Jewish Student Union. And because you had to go out of your way to make such comments on an article not even race-related, it’s clear that you don’t have a problem with BSA, but with blacks in general, which would make you the racist.

I'm not only NOT ashamed to be a Hokie, but am proud of it and pity your closed-mindedness.