California State University San Marcos' Black student population has traditionally made up between 2% and 4% of the student body. Because the numbers of students identifying as Black are comparatively small, visibility is important: as alumnus Jake Northington recalls his first thoughts of campus in his oral history, “The first impression was, where are all the other Black students at? Where are my people at?” (watch Jake Northington describe his early campus experiences). As students move from class to class throughout their day, they may be the only Black person in their classes. CSUSM's Black students needed a space to develop community; to be seen and to be heard. As alumna Jamaéla Johnson describes it, students needed a space to be themselves, a place, before the creation of the Black Student Center, didn’t exist (watch Jamaéla Johnson describe the students’ vision for the Black Student Center).

From the university perspective, student centers like the Black Student Center are important in building student success, and in retaining students, both of which happen through the community they foster. Student Centers bring not only a shared, comfortable community space, but also programming and support, which may not exist or be apparent to students in the larger university environment (watch Dr. Geoffrey Gilmore speak to his journey in fostering student success in higher education).

Although students saw a clear need for an eventual Black Student Center, that need – and the attendant vision of the Center – still demanded to be communicated to the university. Fortuitously, there was a group of strong women in Associated Students Incorporated – the California State University student governance body – that understood this; Tiffany Boyd (15-16 ASI President & CEO), Bianca Garcia (15-16 Executive Vice President), Jamaéla Johnson (15-16 ASI Vice President of Student & University Affairs), and Akilah Green (15-16 ASI Student Representative at Large for Diversity & Inclusion). (watch Tiffaney Boyd talk of her work in student governance at CSUSM, the all-women-of-color executive student board, and the challenges they faced). In conversation with students through other organizations, such as the Black Student Union, and through advocacy for the campus' Latin@/x Center, the student board had a strong foundation to build upon, and in 2015 they began their push for the creation of the BSC. After advocating to university president Karen Haynes, Haynes agreed. Working with supportive faculty and staff, the executive board crafted resolution language and rallied supportive votes for the resolution.  Their efforts culminated in a well-attended and contentious student government meeting, resulting in the resolution's passage and paving the way for the Center’s creation (watch Tiffaney Boyd recall the meeting and the resolution’s passage).

After tireless student advocacy led to the promise from CSUSM President Karen Haynes for the creation of a center for Black students, an intense planning period was undertaken. The Black Student Center opened at the conclusion of Black History Month on February 23, 2017, with an opening celebration and program at the University Student Union and the BSC. The opening celebration started at the USU amphitheater. ASI students spoke, and there was a tour and ribbon cutting at the BSC (watch Marilyn McWilliams recall the day the Center opened). Administrators, Faculty, Staff, and Students who attended and were involved in the opening of the Black Student Center include:

• Karen S. Haynes, Former President, CSUSM
• The Black Student Center Task Force
• Tiffaney Boyd (15-16 ASI President & CEO)
• Bianca Garcia (15-16 ASI Executive Vice President)
• Jamaela Johnson (15-16 ASI Vice President of Student & University Affairs)
• Akilah Green (15-16 ASI Student Representative at Large for Diversity & Inclusion)
• Daniesha Thornton (15-16 BSU President)
• Darniesha Thornton (15-16 BSU Vice President)
• Jake Northington (BSU Member)
• Brandy Williams (Itiyah Bat Yahweh) (BSU Member)
• Louis Adamsel (BSU Member)
• Renee White
• Ashton Mackey
• Sierra Gillespie
• Dahra Williams
• and many integral “hidden figures”

The opening of the Black Student Center was immediately impactful. The BSC provided students with a space for community, a hub for meeting, co-learning, and programming. (watch Jake Northington speak to the impact of the Black Student Center on campus) Programming put on by the Center in those early days was valuable to the campus community and is fondly remembered. Early programs delved into the Black experience in America, and looked at the Black experience through cultural and historical lenses. The BSC hosted programs on Black Wallstreet, Black liberation and the Black Panther Party, and Kwanzaa, among many others.

The BSC also integrated itself into the rhythms and recognition of campus Black life: the BSC hosted Black student graduation ceremonies, recognized the contributions of Black women employees, and participated in intersectional advocacy and awareness, such as with the CSUSM autism walk, along with much, much more. (watch Ariel Stevenson recall many of the programs put on by the BSC)