Black undergraduate students make up 12 percent of the LSU student population, according to the 14th Day Enrollment Reports from the Office of Budget and Planning.
The LSU 12 Percent Awards, which will take place in the LSU Student Union Theater on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., will recognize and celebrate that 12 percent’s progress in the realms of art, service, Greek Life and education.
The show is the product of a collaborative effort among black student organizations such as Qroma and the Black Artist Initiative, as well as the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Biochemistry senior Megan Gilliam, president of Qroma, said she developed the idea after a conversation with theatre senior Oluwaseyi Bamgbola, president of the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, during the summer.
Gilliam, who was looking for a way to showcase LSU’s black community, said they discussed the number of black LSU students making strides in their craft or community when the idea of an awards show came up.
Gilliam said she hopes the number of black LSU students grows over time so future generations can remember it started in 2015 with the 12 percent.
“I felt like it was necessary to have something we could all claim and make our own,” Gilliam said.
To fund the costs of event services from the Student Union, awards and promotions, Gilliam started a GoFundMe, which reached its goal of $450 within a week.
She said the outpour of support encouraged her to put forth more effort to make the event a successful reality.
“People donated in large sums,” Gilliam said. “People from Southern [University and A&M College] donated as well, and that means so much to have another university support what you’re doing.”
There are 11 award categories as well as promotional videos and performances throughout the night.
Categories include the most creative black artist, the faculty member who most supports the black community and the individual who exemplifies LSU’s black community. The nominees are all current LSU students or faculty members chosen through student-submitted nominations.
The event will precede the LSU 12 Percent Black and White Gala in the Student Union’s Cotillion Ballroom. The gala, an annual homecoming event hosted by the Black Student Union, is the only black event to make the homecoming calendar in recent years.
When Gilliam reached out to BSU President Destinee Merdia, a sports administration junior, she said it made sense to make the gala an after party for the awards.
“We were already going to have a large amount of students there for the awards show, so we figured why not have those same people come to the gala,” Merdia said. “We just figured combining the two events would make the night even bigger.”
Both Merdia and Gilliam said they hope the full 12 percent of LSU’s black population will attend with other students of any race to see what can be achieved when they come together.
Despite setbacks like unexpected expenses and doubts, Gilliam said the dedication to having a positive effect on LSU has outweighed the struggles.
“The process has had its moments,” Merdia said. “To have such a grand idea … you would think the campus would be more supportive of it, but we’ve had a lot of setbacks, which we’ve overcome. I think that’s what makes this event even more important.”
As another long term goal, Gilliam said the awards can spark further conversation about how to unite LSU’s demographics by appreciating what students and faculty are doing for the community.
Merdia said the idea wasn’t to put down another group of people but to build one up and lead to an awards show recognizing all LSU students for their efforts.
“It’s very similar to Black Lives Matter,” Gilliam said. “It’s not that other demographics don’t matter, but at this time, we haven’t seen people who actually care about this community. We haven’t actually celebrated each other in everything we do.”
The awards show and the Black and White Gala are free and open to everyone. Doors for the 12 Percent Awards open at 5:30 p.m.