Registered Student Organization Blacks Interested in Business plans to increase membership and continue its event success.

Rashaud Media, the group’s new president and a senior from Chicago studying criminal justice, led the semester’s second meeting Monday. BIB’s meetings are held every Monday at 5 p.m. in Rehn room 18 with the mission to create a collegiate organization for African Americans in the business world and communicate with other business organizations, alumni and programs, he said.

“I hope to lead this club forward as it has done before,” Media said.

The group’s next event, “February’s Fearless Soul Food Dinner,” will take place in the Alumni Lounge Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. Nicolette Shegog, BIB fundraising director and a junior from Chicago studying psychology, said the dinner will be a fun student event that will also benefit participants’ futures.

“This year, we want to capitalize on the fact that we are a business organization, and we want to look more into doing things alongside of business,” Shegog said.

Shegog said the event will give students of all majors the opportunity to network in a professional yet comfortable setting.

Media said another event, and one of BIB’s proudest achievements, is the Minority Student Conference. This year’s conference, the third annual, will take place Mar. 8.

“It was a great way to bond with the professionals that came,” said Genesha Pender, former BIB president and a senior studying

finance. “It gave way for networking.” Pender said about 300 students attended last year’s conference. This year, she said, the organization’s goal is increase attendance to 500. “A lot of people don’t take advantage of it, so we are trying to change that this year and start

marketing early,” she said. The conference has student workshops

and activities to help increase business world knowledge, Pender said.

“It is a gateway for students to get the knowledge that they don’t learn in the classroom,” she said.

Darrien Moore, a freshman from Chicago studying journalism, is a new member to BIB.

“I joined because what it represents,” Moore said. “I prefer to have a community.”

Arnesto Watkins, a senior from Chicago studying business, is a three-year BIB member. Being in BIB has strengthened his character, he said, and he hopes to use his gained knowledge and experience to eventually work for the Chicago Board of Trade.

“Blacks interested in Business has always set leaders on campus,” he said.