The Organization for Black Unity has its heart invested in Lupus
Awareness Week.

This is the second year the group has raised awareness about the
disease in honor of Stephanie Goss, a former OBU member who died from
the disease in 2004.

“She really wanted everyone to understand what Lupus was,” said
Flint senior Shaunette Massey.

Massey, OBU’s Student Government Association representative, spoke
Wednesday night at the group’s Lupus Awareness program.

“Before doing research, I always thought that Lupus was for old
people,” she said. “I was very shocked.”

Lupus affects the immune system, turning the body against itself. It
strikes mostly African-American women of childbearing age.

“Since the immune system is designed to protect, it takes your own
body cells and recognizes them as a foreign agent,” Massey said.
“(Education is) very important because we’re at that level where we
could develop this disease at any time.”

OBU treasurer and Saginaw senior Dana Pruitt said the group hopes to
raise $100 to give to the Lupus Alliance, through donations and the
money charged at Thursday’s OBU’s potluck dinner and game night.

Farmington Hills freshman Christina Stallings said she enjoyed
attending the dinner.

“I wanted to share in this minority experience,” she said. “I just
like the fact that all of us are getting together, not in trouble, just
spending time with each other and getting to know one another.”

Belleville senior and OBU president Lakishia Smith said the group
plans to volunteer today at Tendercare Mount Pleasant, 1524 Portabella
Trail. OBU also is sponsoring Icebreaker 2006, what she called “the
first party of the semester.”

“It’s just a way to start the semester off right, listen to some
good music and dance,” Smith said.

Icebreaker 2006 starts at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Student Activity
Center. Admission is $5, with an inflation in price after midnight.
While OBU was initially formed for black unity, Smith said everyone is
invited.

“It has evolved into an organization that promotes unity amongst all
CMU students,” she said.

E-mail the author: Lindsey Wahowiak