Q&A with the BSU: A.J. Avery ‘12 and Calvin Lee ‘23
As we come to the close of Black History Month, we sat down with the leaders of our Black Student Union (BSU) — Moderator Coach A.J. Avery ‘12 and President Calvin Lee ‘23 — to learn more about the BSU and the work they are doing every day.
1. We want to hear the St. Rita Black Student Union origin story — how did the BSU get up and running?
Calvin Lee (CL): Well, the BSU started in my freshman year in 2019 by Brother Joe and Chudi Martin, Jr. ‘20. We actually hosted a BSU mass that year and that’s really how I become a part of it. I was the only Freshman. But then COVID happened so we stopped meeting. So now, in my senior year, we started back up. Coach Avery started working here earlier this school year, and we were all talking about it and it just kind of happened again.
Coach A.J. Avery (AA): When I was here, we didn’t have anything like that. I just wanted to give them space to be themselves, to talk about what’s going on in school, what’s going on outside of school. I wanted them to feel comfortable just voicing their opinions and just really getting a well-rounded experience here at St. Rita.
I graduated in 2012 and we didn’t have anything close to a mentor group. We just hung out with our athlete friends and went home. So I just wanted to build a brotherhood here so even if they just see each other in the hallway, they know more people – their community has expanded. We just ordered some shirts and I’m really excited about the direction of the BSU.
2. What are the goals of the BSU?
AA: My biggest goal is to help them prepare for the future – I want them to get experiences early on being leaders. They are learning how to stand up and present to a group. That’s something I struggled with. I had trouble public speaking. I want them to gain confidence in themselves and grow in their speaking skills. And this is a group where they can do that. I think it’ll really impact them in the long run.
Ultimately, this is a mentoring group. This is a group for everyone. It’s a Black Student Union, but everyone is welcome. We have students of many different ethnic backgrounds.
CL: We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays during school hours in the auditorium and include that over the announcements to make sure everyone who wants to join can. From the moment you walk in, we want to make everyone feel welcome.
3. How has the BSU impacted you? Has it changed your relationship with school?
CL: I’m so glad we have the BSU. Coming into St. Rita was very different for me. I only went to school with other Black students, so us coming together impacted me. I’m a naturally quiet person so this group gave me the chance to practice speaking in a setting where I feel I can be myself. Every time we meet, I have to push myself to address this group of dozens of students on any given day. And it has helped me feel confident. I was in the background before and now, as president of the BSU, I’m the face of it. So, I’m like ‘let’s do it.’
The BSU has grown a lot – and continues to grow — so I’m making it a point to introduce myself to the freshman that come in. I’m hoping to make an impact on them in the same way my mentors have on me.
AA: Coming into the school year, a lot of people told me about Calvin. I’ve heard great things. Everyone knows Calvin. I can see all the positive things he’s doing for his school community and neighborhood. I think the BSU has been a big part of giving him the confidence and leadership skills to be that.
4. What would you like alumni and friends of St. Rita to know about the BSU?
AA: It’s not just a club. It’s a mentoring group. Some days we come in and have a deep discussions – like a few weeks ago we discussed the tragic incident in Memphis. It’s not always just a place where we come to kick it.
CL: Sometimes it’s conversations. Sometimes it’s games – like we’ve played trivia. We also do mental check-in days.
AA: I would just also like everyone to know the the leaders of the BSU are doing the work. There are about seven leadership roles and they are planning the meetings, they are speaking, they are organizing. The upperclassmen are working with the Freshman and Sophomores. All of this is so when they do go to college or even after, they have experience as leaders and organizers to pull from.
5. How did the BSU celebrating Black History Month?
AA: This month we’ve made it point to talk about the Black alum who are doing great things – two of which are now even working with our students, our Athletic Director Curtis Price ‘88 and one of the new assistant football coaches and former NFL Super Bowl Champion Darius Fleming ‘08. Both are Black men that are doing good things in the community and for the St. Rita family. We also made a trip to Holy Name Cathedral to attend the African American Heritage Mass last week as group. It was a great opportunity for us to get together off campus.
6. How can the St. Rita school community learn more about the Black Student Union?
CL: All students who are interested in joining can come to the Auditorium on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It could be a day we are having a deep conversation or something just fun. We are open to everyone who would like to join. Or even if you’d just talk to me or Coach Avery, we’re here too. Everyone is also welcome to follow us on Instagram @blackstudentunion.SR.
Calvin Lee ‘23 is a graduate of Wadsworth STEM Elementary School. He is the President of the Black Student Union and a manager of the basketball team. Calvin was also a starting wide receiver on the St. Rita Football team, and this January he committed to playing at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.
A.J. Avery ‘12 (Assistant Director of Athletics, Black Student Union Moderator) is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where he starred on the basketball team for four years, including a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014. After graduating from WMU, Avery was Dean of Students at Art in Motion Creative Arts Charter School. Outside of St. Rita, he also works for the Chicago Bulls and their Bulls Kid Nation hosting clinics and camps for kids 8-14 throughout Chicagoland.