Q&A: The legacy of BSA

Discussing the range and scope of the Black experience, counselor and ’84 alumna, co-adviser Camille Baughn-Cunningham said the club’s mission has remained largely constant over the years. As a young member then, and co-advisor now, she hopes to carry that mission forward.

How did BSA function when you were a student? How has your experience evolved over the years? 

It functions largely now as it did then. Talking about what is it like to be an African American student in the high school in 2022, or whatever the year might be, and what is it like to be an African American in the world? Certainly in the Midwest and in Chicago, and what comes into school with you given that experience in the larger world, and being able to talk about those issues, and sometimes being able to affect change.

What’s something you remember vividly about your BSA experience? 

One of the things I always remember about being part of BSA as a student were the MLK assemblies. A lot of times, that really does come back to, you know, “How can I make sure that as much as I may have very strong feelings and thoughts about what needs to happen in the MLK assembly, making sure that the students run the show?” The audience is mostly students, and I want the assembly to really speak to students. It’s fascinating because, at the time I was in Lab, it felt like this school was much more of a neighborhood and South Side school. We felt like there was a real connection, despite our different backgrounds. 

As co-adviser, what lessons do you hope to imbue?

I would start with this combination of belonging and worth. Recognizing that, while you may not see the same number of students that look like you in a different setting, you are valued here. And finding a way to voice your experience, and with that, your needs and the challenges, I think, is really important. We all learn from any student’s experience at Lab, and can work to make Lab a better place. The second thing I’d think of is having a person in the building you can go to. I’d love it if it was me, but if it’s not me, that’s just fine. I feel like that’s one thing we tell them repeatedly. Third thing I might say is, how do you leave your mark here? Students go through high school, and obviously they’re thinking about what they can learn, and what they take with them to the next place, the college they attend, but what do you leave behind? It doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. Sometimes we forget the little things.