DeKalb High School has taken steps to diversify by planning to develop a black student union.

After the proposal for a black student union made by DeKalb resident Yahcolyah Muhammad at the last school board meeting, Larry Stinson, DHS principal, spoke with Muhammad about the criteria for organizing one, Stinson said.

“But non-school members may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend student groups,” Stinson said. “It has to be student-initiated, and the meeting has to be voluntary.”

The black student union will be open to everyone and will not be religious-based. The adviser for the group has not been chosen yet, but it will not be a paid position, Stinson said.

“They will be more of an observer than a participant,” he said.

Both DHS and NIU administrators are excited about the upcoming black student union.

“When you have 1,600 kids, you have many diversity concerns, and this is another avenue for students to address concerns and make sure their voices are heard,” Stinson said.

NIU’s Center for Black Studies is supportive of DHS forming a black student union and is working with students from the high school.

“It is important for DeKalb High School to get one. Right now, there are no classes that address African-Americans, Native Americans, Asians or Latinos. This would be a good way for them to get together and discuss,” said LaVerne Gyant, director of the Center for Black Studies.

NIU’s Black Student Union members agree that having a union at the high school level will be a great asset to the school and have plans for interaction between both unions.

“We are looking forward to working with the high school students. They are very passionate about starting a union,” BSU secretary Conicia Jackson said.

The black student union at DHS will allow students to find comfort within each other, Stinson said.

“Hearing the voices of different groups is important. And then each student has an outlet that they feel comfortable in,” Stinson said.

The union will bring awareness to the school and also make students more aware of themselves.

“The union will bring confidence to young students and prepare them for the issues they will face in college and in the real world,” Jackson said.