BSU Hosts Basketball Tournament

The Black Student Union at Fairmont State will co-sponsor a basketball fund-raiser with the community center, 612 MAC, Saturday, Sept. 16, at Windmill Park.

The event will take place at noon with ages 16 years and older participating. There is a four-member maximum per team and the registration fee per person is $25. Persis Bates, Fairmont State University Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs, said BSU will donate a portion of the proceeds to the center.

As a child, Bates attended the 612 MAC community center, which is located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Fairmont. So did Tiffany Jones, BSU's secretary.

"That was our community. That is where we grew up and so to go back into the community is great," Bates said.

But, Bates said, most of the BSU members are not from Fairmont. The basketball tournament and other interaction between BSU and the children who attend 612 MAC gives the BSU members a chance to get to know the children of the Fairmont community, and it also gives the children a chance to meet college students who come from other places. Bates said the connection gives the children an excellent opportunity to find out about FSU.

Past members of the Falcons football team volunteer their time helping with the 612 MAC Pop Warner football teams, and students from the football team and from BSU always take the time to play basketball with the children.

"The children enjoy the college students so much," said Anna McCright, Director of 612 MAC. "It's not just playing basketball with them. It's talking to them about what they want to do in life. They can tell them about what college is all about and, more importantly, what they have to do to get to college."

The tournament grand prize is $500 and the registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 8. For more information about the tournament, contact Charles Elder at (304) 657-6148; Tiffany Jones at (678) 612-9013 or Bates at (304) 367-4950.