Black Caucus, The BEAT hold 'This Is America' discussion – The Daily Collegian

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Attendees pose for a group photo during the Penn State Student Black Caucus “This is America” discussion event on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
Participants discuss various topics during the Penn State Student Black Caucus “This is America” discussion event on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
Participants discuss various topics during the Penn State Student Black Caucus “This is America” discussion event on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
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Attendees pose for a group photo during the Penn State Student Black Caucus “This is America” discussion event on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
The Penn State Student Black Caucus, along with Penn State’s Black Emotions Advocate Team (The BEAT) organization, held a “This Is America” discussion in the Thomas Building on Monday evening.
The discussion was a collaboration between the two groups as a way of bringing together students from both organizations to hold a comprehensive, in-depth conversation about black culture within society as a whole, as well as within the Penn State community.
The discussion included three categories of topics, cultural appropriation vs. appreciation, race relations and politics and economics, with two questions in each. It was followed by a full room conversation that was facilitated by members of both organizations, including Queron Hope, Eden Roach and Nicholas Morrison.
“Sometimes people can be apprehensive to say what they’re truly feeling, so this is a safe place for people to come and express how they feel,” Roach, a third-year studying psychology, said.
This collaboration marks the first discussion involving both the Black Caucus and The BEAT.
Participants discuss various topics during the Penn State Student Black Caucus “This is America” discussion event on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in University Park, Pa.

One executive board member from the BEAT organization, Ruthza Gerard, said both organizations have very good turnouts, and collaboration is a great way to spread the outreach.
“It’s always nice to see a room that’s full and (you) still have to grab more chairs,” Gerard, a fourth-year studying psychology, said.
President of the Student Black Caucus, Samiyah McDuffie, said the turnout for events like this are very touch and go, but there is always a good discussion no matter how many people show up.
As the event began, the speakers opened up the conversation with an ice breaker that included the question: “What is something you are proud of yourself for.” It allowed attendees to open the conversation with a positive attitude and embrace the spirit of the event. This was not only an event to encourage discussion, but to evoke students’ pride in this gathering.
While the turnout started off rather small with only about three to four people per table, the room quickly filled to the point where there were not enough chairs in the designated room, forcing organization members to gather chairs from other rooms to accommodate the students coming to voice their thoughts on the various topics at hand.
Each question was read allowed, followed by about a minute of discussion amongst neighboring attendees, before being gathered back and creating a full room dialogue where students got to share their opinions on the questions asked.
Participants discuss various topics during the Penn State Student Black Caucus “This is America” discussion event on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in University Park, Pa.

“I was really happy the room was filled,” Aneaus Smith, said. “I was really excited to get into the discussion,”
Smith, a second-year studying education and public policy, said it’s always “really nice” to have discussions like these where everyone in the community can feel safe and comfortable to share their view.
Similarly, Gerard believes opportunities like this discussion are a way for students to stay informed and think about certain topics in a time that is quite polarized.
“Some of the questions I had never thought about … I think when we can come together in times like this and talk about it, we are able to make more informed decisions,” Gerard said.
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