Sankofa is the Akan symbol that is used by the Black Student Union.It means looking to the past to create the future. Literally translated; “Go back and retrieve.” The word is derived from the words SAN = return, KO = go, FA = look, seek, take. This symbolizes the quest for knowledge, with the implication that the quest is based on critical examination, intelligent and patient investigation.There are two commonly used symbols both based on a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward and its head looking backward; thus the belief that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. To the Akan people it is this wisdom in learning from the past that ensures a strong future.