The Black Student Alliance (BSA) will be hosting a series of events throughout the month of February to celebrate Black History Month, including traditional group activities as well as new events initiated this year.

Events will include a slam poetry night, tribute to hip hop, musical performance nights and an event bringing high school students to campus to experience college life.

“The goal in the events is to pay tribute to some aspect of black culture,” said Jonathan Seals, the president of BSA. “Some of the events are tradition, and some are brand new.”

The events will run throughout the month, starting Feb. 7 and ending on Feb. 28 with a musical showcase by the Denver groups Talent Among Us and Colorado Operations in Sidelines pub.

“A lot of people wanted to bring really big names,” said Seals of the showcase, which last year featured Khleo Thomas. “but we have enough talent here in Denver to put on a good show.”

Seals said this and other events that will take place this month are meant to reach out to and incorporate the larger Denver community, something he wanted BSA to do more of when he took over as president this year.

“I wanted us to be out there helping the community,” said Seals.

Part of that community outreach and involvement will include an event just begun this year called “A Day at DU,” which brings students from local high schools to campus to shadow a member of BSA and learn about the college experience.

The event will be on Feb. 22 and will bring in up to 30 students from local high schools George Washington High School, East High School and South High School.

“I really wanted BSA to do more mentoring and speaking this year,” said Seals of the effort.

Students will be given the opportunity to attend classes with a member of BSA, discuss the admissions process and financial aid and attend a questions panel of professors.

The month’s events also include a slam poetry night on Feb. 7, a tribute to hip hop on Feb. 15 and a Feb. 20 showing of the film Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin.

Seals said he has enjoyed support from other members of the community, including student alliances. He said DUPB has offered to help with much of the programming, and the slam poetry night will be co-sponsored by the Latino Student Alliance.

Seals said he wants the events to show different elements of black culture, and give students the opportunity to interact with and celebrate its different aspects.

“I want the events to show the many complexities of black culture,” said Seals. “I am very excited for all of them.”

This year has been effective in membership building and outreach, said Seals, who hopes that the February activities will draw even more students to join. This year, membership has already risen from ten students last year to about 30 this year according to Seals.

Seals does not know how many students to expect for the events, but said that no matter how many come, he hopes they enjoy the experience.

“I want 200 people to come but even if only five come I want them to go away saying ‘wow, I really got a lot out of that,” he said.