The Black Student Lounge (BSPACE) was opened in 2024 thanks to the efforts of the Student Engagement Office and Black Student Engagement Student Life Coordinator, Modele Kuforiji. Their hard work ensures that Black students across UTSG have access to as many resources and opportunities available to be successful both in school and in post-grad life.

Open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, BSPACE gives Black students the opportunity to meet and connect on such a big and busy campus that can sometimes feel isolating. BSPACE offers an assortment of activities, including board games, video games, and books by Black authors like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and All About Love by bell hooks. BSPACE also has a team of Black students who volunteer and organize events for students, such as video game tournaments and movie nights.

You can find a who’s who of important Black authors on the BSPACE shelves. ERINAYO OYELADUN/THE VARSITY

The Black Student Lounge (BSPACE) was opened in 2024 thanks to the efforts of the Student Engagement Office and Black Student Engagement Student Life Coordinator, Modele Kuforiji. Their hard work ensures that Black students across UTSG have access to as many resources and opportunities available to be successful both in school and in post-grad life.

Open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, BSPACE gives Black students the opportunity to meet and connect on such a big and busy campus that can sometimes feel isolating. BSPACE offers an assortment of activities, including board games, video games, and books by Black authors like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and All About Love by bell hooks. BSPACE also has a team of Black students who volunteer and organize events for students, such as video game tournaments and movie nights.

BSPACE contains two complementary spaces, one for studying and one for relaxing. ERINAYO OYELADUN/THE VARSITY

This space has given me a chance to understand and relate to the sacrifices others made to be here. It provides support for battling an institution that has limited resources to spend on supporting students from various backgrounds. 

Before BSPACE, I knew there were other Black students on campus, but we were always scattered among the hundreds of classes within this institution, the various organizations that exist, and the many class schedules that rarely overlapped. Often, we were passing faces through a hallway, never stopping because there was so much to be committed to, and so many responsibilities awaiting us. 

However, BSPACE has allowed me to meet with other Black students across different fields. I have shared stories with people, reminding me of the power of community, especially of knowing that there are other people who are struggling just like me. Together, we are able to empower one another to solve pressing issues that exist within our communities. 

So I implore you, in the name of free snacks, a rarely-used TV, couches to take a refreshing nap on, and people to talk and relate with, to give BSPACE a chance. Help grow our community and enrich it with unique insights that only you can bring to the table. University is hard, and the journey ahead is rarely smooth, but I know that BSPACE and the people you find there will keep on cheering you on! 

Open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, BSPACE gives Black students the opportunity to meet and connect on such a big and busy campus that can sometimes feel isolating. ERINAYO OYELADUN/THE VARSITY