Daria Locke | IN FOCUS REPORTER

HSF has issued a call to clubs around campus to get involved with Black History Month due to unexpectedly low participation so far.

“We’re disappointed (in) the lack of involvement from the clubs around campus,” said Aaron Miller, events co-ordinator for the HSF. “We didn’t get as much response from them as we had hoped for. There is still time for them(students) to get involved.”

“It is important to put on these events because we have a diverse student population at Humber,” Miller said.

Guelph-Humber has also had some problems getting this year’s celebration of culture off the ground. Randi Standford, a first-year public relations student at Guelph-Humber had approached the HSF to collaborate on some events during the upcoming month.

“It’s such an important part of Canadian history,” she said. “I want the students here to know about the contributions of black men and women.”

Standford said there is a lack of cultural events at Guelph-Humber and said there needs to be more to raise the consciousness of students about different cultures.

“I’m hoping to make a change so that another Black History Month doesn’t go by without anything being done,” Standford said.

Even though many clubs are not involved, HSF has numerous events planned.

“We have a great mix of events this year,” said Ercole Perrone, executive director of HSF. “A bit of entertainment, some cultural events. It’s going to be really good.”

Some of the events include movie nights, starting with a showing of the Spike Lee movie Get on the Bus on Feb. 9, When We Were Kings on Feb. 16 and Reggae in the Afternoon featuring local artist Humble.

“We want to make sure it is a positive celebration,” Miller said. “We’re running these events because they are accessible not only to black students, but also other cultures too.”

Humble, whose given name is Simon Vassell, said he would like his music to be heard for this month’s celebration because it has many good messages for the black community.

“Humble decided that being a part of this community was very important to him and being heard was his way of contributing,” said his agent Beverley Parnell.

Humble will be performing at North and Lakeshore Campus.

Advertising is going up this week for the Black History Month events around Humber and students are encouraged to keep an eye out for them. For a complete list of events, check out the HSF website.