As the months pass by at school, do you sometimes wonder what’s going on around campus when you’re not inside the classroom?

If you’re not quite sure how to find out what those activities are, then you’ll find an answer here.

It’s now February, and with this month comes a dedication to black history – the perfect opportunity for campus to offer up a slew of activities.

Throughout the month Northern Kentucky University will be buzzing with organizations hosting activies filled with food, fun, and facts.

“We want to educate everyone on African American culture, and how it is a big part of American history,” Delta Sigma Theta President LeShauna Persley said. “There are many people who may not be as well educated on the subject, and for some it will be a reminder of where they came from.”

Delta Sigma Theta will be hosting its annual Black History Bowl at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The event will take place at Norse Commons in room 117.

The bowl was instituted when the chapter was founded at NKU in 1995, and every year the sorority adds new ideas to keep things fresh and fun.

The African American and Latino Student Affairs Office will also host events throughout the month, including a Black History Kickoff.

The kickoff will be held from noon until 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, in the UC Ballroom.

They will also sponsor a Soul Food Fest from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 in the UC Ballroom.

If some of these events interest you, check out the Institute of Freedom Studies to get more in-depth information about Black History Month.

“Our goal is to collect and share information about the Underground Railroad in the country as a whole, but specifically the Ohio River Valley,” said Prince Brown Jr., associate professor of sociology and director of the Institute of Freedom Studies.

Most events given by the Institute do not occur specifically in February, but if you have a thirst for knowledge or you are full of curiosity, then there are many activities and events you can be involved with through this department, Brown said.

For instance, the Institute sponsors an annual writing and art contest specifically geared toward black history and the Underground Railroad.

The contest is not just for the campus; it involves the entire Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area.

There is also an event called the Borderlands Conference, held on campus in conjunction with the Freedom Center of Cincinnati. This is another event focusing on the Underground Railroad.

“We actually have a joint faculty member who works 50 percent of the time at NKU and the other 50 percent of the time at the Freedom Center,” Brown said.

That faculty member is Dr. Dolores Walters, who conducts training workshops for community researchers at the Freedom Center.

Walters also teaches courses in anthropology, and philosophy while assisting with the Institute of Freedom Studies.

The Institute of Freedom Studies shares its knowledge with elementary and high schools throughout the year by hosting lectures and dramatic readings, and giving tours of Underground Railroad sites.

Additional events will be offered by Phi Beta Sigma Inc. It will host a Black Greek History Bowl on Thursday, Feb. 19. To find out where and what time this event will take place you can contact the Office of Student Life at 572-6514, or stop in the University Center suite 10.

One of the last big campus activities for the month will be a lecture given by Dr. Noel Ignatiev, titled “The New Abolitionist Movement.”

The lecture is sponsored by the office of affirmative action and multicultural affairs.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held in the University Center in Budig Theatre at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

No reservations are required to attend this event.

If you need more information you can contact Connie Drews by calling 572-6388 or e-mail to .

In the end, I hope that you don’t let the month of February slide by without taking advantage of all the activities offered on campus.

So if you’re someone who usually lets the world pass them by, then this is the perfect opportunity for you to start getting involved.

If you wish to find out about more activities from other organizations, or for future monthly schedules of events, check out the NKU homepage and click the calendars link.

There you’ll find a listing of events taking place on campus specifically geared towards black history and the Underground Railroad.