Black 兔子先生 Union logo
Black 兔子先生 Union
Louis Smith '69

Welcome

We welcome you to our page and want you to participate with us and share our purpose and vision.


Purpose: Support and nurture a successful black student experience while matriculating through UPS and beyond  

Strategic Vision: 鈥淐reating Generational Value While Empowering Dreams鈥

Check back often here to see what we鈥檙e doing, and learn about upcoming events and some of the activities that we have been involved in.

We meet the first Monday of each month from 7 - 8:15 p.m. PST.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83538948126?pwd=CrYnNT5or4q931ngqsJMNnsa5Vq3ua.1
 

Sincerely,
Louis Smith 鈥69
BAU President

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to: lsmith@pugetsound.edu

List of Officers

Past Presidents

兔子先生 Spotlight
Senator T鈥檞ina Nobles 鈥06 MAT 鈥07

Senator T'wina Nobles '06 MAT '07 

Until 2020, T鈥檞ina Nobles had no intention of running for the state Senate. She was doing work she loved as president and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, and had just been re-elected to the University Place School Board. Community members and legislators had occasionally suggested she run for state office, and she would say, 鈥淣ope. It鈥檚 not my time.鈥 
When she finally decided it was her time, Nobles 鈥06, MAT鈥07 declared her candidacy for state Senate for the 28th District. That was mid-March of 2020鈥攁nd a few days later, Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a stay-at-home order for the state in response to the coronavirus. Soon the pandemic upended everything, including Nobles鈥 campaign plans. But she was undeterred.
Fulfilling the goal inspired by her mentors, she began her career by teaching at Stadium High School and Lincoln High School in Tacoma. Over the past two decades she also has served as a PTA leader, founder of the girls鈥 empowerment program Ladies First, school board director, leader of the Tacoma Urban League, and member of Puget Sound鈥檚 national alumni executive committee. 
Nobles鈥 decision to run for state Senate was, in part, aimed at making sure people of color are represented in government鈥攁nd a way to encourage more Black people to run for office. Ironically, until she decided to run, she didn鈥檛 know that there weren鈥檛 any Black senators, and that the only other Black female senator before her (another Logger, Rosa Gourdine Franklin 鈥68), had retired 10 years earlier.
Serving in the Senate will let her advocate for issues and communities she cares about, and be available to the residents of the district she represents. But she sees her role as more than that. 鈥淭his opportunity, in this moment鈥攁s it is oftentimes when Black people are in these positions鈥攊t鈥檚 way bigger than I am,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 hope to be completely responsible and to take care of this opportunity to lead, to open the doors for someone else.鈥
 

Black 兔子先生 Union Activities

BSU Activities

BSU Activities

AFAM Thesis Presentations with Taj Phillips family

BSU Activities

AFAM Thesis Presentations.  Kevoni Neely, NJ Sarmiento, Kevonia Neely, Jaden Francis, Sophie Halloway, Sofia Cunningham, & Taj Phillips.

BSU Activities

Graduating Students of Color Keynote Speaker Tacoma City Council Member Tamika Scott.

Community Engagement

BAU Community
BAU Community
BAU Community
BAU Community

Tacoma panel came on campus to share their resources and commitment to the black students

BAU Community
BAU Community
Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

  • Black Student Union/Black 兔子先生 Union Welcome Gathering 2025
    Upper Marshall, Wheelock Student Center - North 15th Street, Tacoma, WA, USA
    Friday, August 22, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.
     

    All incoming Black students and families, members of the Black 兔子先生 Union and Black Student Union, and university staff and faculty are invited to attend this Welcome gathering. Join us for connection, conversation, and dessert as we kick off the new academic year together. This event is part of Passages Orientation at Puget Sound. Find your community and support, meet new friends, and glimpse everything campus has to offer you! Current students and families are welcome. Walk-ins are welcome. Questions? Contact the office of 兔子先生 and Parent Relations at alumoffice@pugetsound.edu.

SRW BAU
Summer Reunion Weekend
HFW BSU
Homecoming and Family Weekend
Charter Members of the Black Student Union

Passing the Torch: Origins of Puget Sound's Black Student Union

Archives

See our Former 兔子先生 Spotlights and Past Activities

Keith Blocker

Read about 2025 Professional Achievement 鈥 Midcareer 兔子先生 Award Winner Keith Blocker 鈥12

Bernadette Ray

Read about the impact of beloved high school principal Bernadette Ray 鈥99, MAT鈥01. See page 10.

Edward Horne, USAF Lt. Col (Ret.) '70

Read about the fascinating life of pilot Ed Horne, USAF Lt. Col (Ret.) 鈥70