Black Caucus' new top officers intend to unify the black community in hopes of making inroads on the demands made at the 1988 Telecommunications Building protest.

In the past, the University's black student movement has responded to administrators' actions instead of acting itself, said Nicole Batts, president-elect.

"Let them react to what we do instead of us reacting to them," she said.

With a new University president and vice provost expected this fall and the search for a vice provost for underrepresented groups continuing, Batts said she wants to ensure the group's influence in the new administration.

"The Caucus needs to be influential so (the administration) won't turn around all the things we have fought for," she said.

Protesting what they termed an insensitive racial climate, black students in 1988 submitted a list of demands to the University, including the appointment of a vice provost for underrepresented groups, the establishment of a black studies department and the building of a new Paul Robeson Cultural Center.

Batts and Gerard Louison ran unopposed and were elected at Monday's Black Caucus General Assembly. No one ran for the other positions, so the executives will appoint a secretary, treasurer and other leaders.

Batts, a co-chair of Upwardly Mobile African Women, formerly Upwardly Mobile African American Women, and a three-year Caucus member, said she plans to meet with the leaders of black student groups to assess their priorities and foster better communication among organizations.

"It seems that the only time we come together is when there is a crisis," she said.

"People are pledging allegiance to their organizations and not to the people," agreed Louison, a two-year Caucus member and former president of the Student Union Board. "You can't serve the community apart from the community."

Tara Webb, whose vice presidential term ends when Batts and Louison take over in April, said she is pleased with the new officers.

"I think they'll make an excellent team," she said.

Webb said restructuring the group was the most important goal she and President Walter Mosley accomplished this year.

Officer and committee roles are now more defined, she said, and the group's constitution has been updated for the first time since the early 1970s.

"Now (Batts) can pretty much tackle some of the bigger problems," she said.

Officers often build on the work of previous administrations, Webb said, pointing out she and Mosley addressed the unity issue this year, but Batts and Louison must continue to work on it.

Mosley's and Webb's work with the Caucus is not finished, Webb said.

Alumni often stay involved with the Caucus by attending programs and providing moral and financial support.

"It's a real good support system. We keep in touch with alumni and they in turn keep in touch with us," she said.