I need some guidance about the racism I'm encountering in college

[imaparasite]

People are recommending specific schools, but I would say you could go pretty much anywhere that's not known for those kinds of mentalities. I mean the vast majority of colleges in USA are liberal and not ignorant. Sounds like KSU isn't a very good school in that regard.

[Dlp108]

kathiep- They told me before I came here that fin aid for me woouldnt be a problem since I'm independent and a minority so I came and now I'm 2,000 short. I dont know what Im going to do about it. A few people on campus have been trying to help me and one person has actually gotten the cashiers office to agree to life my holds so I can register for classes as long as I at least agree to pay the money back as i can and put up 20 bucks so thats a start. I'm meeting with the dean of student life in about two hours because she has some suggestions for me and she also spoke with the vice president of admissions and finance about my situation.

Nester- I havent met any minority professors but even the non minority ones are great. I'm meeting with the diversity dual careers office director today to discuss a the issues Ive been having and see what she suggest I should do. Moving out could be an option or even tranfering but that sucks that I have to run away to get away from a problem no one deserves to endure. Im so tired of trying to tell my RA and my RLC (residence life coordinator) about the racial issues because its a given to them and they swear that my generation is alot more accepting then their grandparents and parents were but some are not and make life living hell for the people they choose to harrass.


kristin5792-Thank for for the advice, yeah Ive looked into KU because Ive heard its alot of liberal but the only person they have a bigger african american student body is because of sports, Im not sure but Im not going to asssume. I actually like mizzou, one of these kids from high school goes there but she says it isnt very diverse. We went to the most diverse high school in our county back in florida so going somewhere where it isnt as diverse is ackward. I miss my high school.

hifi-Lol I live in Moore Hall actually and there isn't a diversity team. Thats old stuff, 2003 old. But we do have a MA (Multicutural Assistant) each dorm hall has one because they knwo what type of crap goes on here. They arent very helpful, they just get free room and board to put on programming that sometimes have nothing to do with diversity or multicutural affairs.

[Dlp108]

EtTuBrutus- Those frats and sororitys are terrible for doing those things. I dont know what makes people think that their better then anyone else because of their race. Jeeze.

I like that qoute.

Like I tell some of my friends "I just wish some people would get to know me because they make these assumptions about me in their head. Because the vast majority of the time when they do get to know me, they always end up saying "Wow your so much different then I thought you were."

[thirstyice]

hmm i wonder if Michael Beasley's having same problem..

but as for your concern, i'd transfer. You don't deserve all that crap from ignorant hicks in Kansas. This miserable feeling might actually lead you to do something you'll regret so I suggest that u go back to Florida or some other place where diversity is encouraged.

[Northstarmom]

"As for this situation, it is not uncommon. The overt nature of it is a bit over the top but it does not surprise me. "

What the OP is describing is very uncommon. H and I and our sons went to overwhelmingly white colleges and did not experience the kind of things that the OP describes.

Overt racism is so rare that The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education lists each month incidents that have occurred on campuses across the country. Experiencing overt racism isn't something that one should expect while going to any college except possibly Bob Jones College, which didn't even accept blacks until a couple of years ago.

There is absolutely no reason to stay at a college where you're experiencing such racism and also are having to pay lots of money to attend. Just isn't worth it.

Your own home state -- Florida -- is very diverse and has lots of 4-year and 2-year colleges that are diverse. I know students of all races at Florida colleges (including my S) and no one has complained about racism. It simply isn't tolerated on their campuses.

Florida colleges are also either better (UF, Rollins) or just as good as KSU, so no reason to stay at KSU for the education.

Hard for me to imagine, too, that you couldn't have a better financial deal by going back to Florida.

In addition, unless you want to make Kansas your permanent home, going to Florida colleges would give you better advantages when it comes to getting jobs, internships in Florida or the South, where you're not likely to be in the distinct racial minority virtually anywhere.

[MidwestParent]

dip - KSU is one of our stateU's and I am embarassed. Your description of many of the students and the environments they come from is very accurate. Probably more than 80% of the kids come from Kansas. My D attends a private top 12 school with a lot of diversity. She is home for the summer and went up to KU (our other stateU) to visit some friends yesterday. When she returned home I asked her if she was sorry she didn't go to KU (for free!) and be with her friends, rather than the very difficult school she attends. She remarked on the students she saw and how different they were from the kids at her school. She said how they dress, their social "ranking", and how cool they are is all alot of them seemed concerned with. She said that she didn't hear one "academic" conversation here entire time there - very different from the school she attends, where nearly every conversation is cerebral! She said, no thank you, she would stay at the school she attends. I think I would go back to Florida also. I am not sure what KSU has to offer you.

thirstyice - I was thinking the same thing! Isn't the BIGGEST man on the KSU campus right now basketball standout Michael Beasley - who is African-American/Hispanic!! Maybe the OP needs to talk to him. I think if they became friends the comments would come to a screeching halt!

[Northstarmom]

Also the black population of Kansas is about 5% while the black population of Florida is about 15%. Probably the Hispanic population of Florida is also much higher than that in Kansas. Consequently, you are much more likely to be around students who are comfortable with racial/ethnic diversity in Fla. than in Kansas.

[cottonwood513]

Or come to Illinois.

[marnimom]

I agree with the other posters, dlp. There are so many other options and while it may be hard for you to believe it when in the midst of this situation, you do not need to put up with that type of treatment. Why be the martyr? Discussing the situation with the dean, professors or the head of multicultural affairs is not going to change the campus environment. The students that are harassing you and other African-American students will not be forced to change.

A woman I know says racism is a weapon of mass distraction. Your situation exemplifies that. You're under siege, you're unhappy, you're stressed - who is it impacting? You. Your education is bound to suffer, as well as your self-esteem.

As a mother of a college student and a rising hs senior, my motherly advice to you is to move on and go somewhere else. Do not return to KU for the fall semester. Do not stay for the summer.

[missypie]

I'd just say goodbye to Kansas State. If this was 1960 and you had a whole lot of family support I might challenge you to stay and try to change the place. But this is 2008, there are LOTS of places you could go where you would be treated better and you deserve a fun college experience.

[Adultparentmom!]

I am with the crowd that says transfer ASAP. There are so many marvelous places to get an education. The loss will be with the students who clearly need to be educated about the human race.

[Consolation]

Re post #41: I read 6 pages of that thread and didn't see anything that qualified as hate speech.

At no point in the pages I read did anyone even attempt to associate illegal status with any race or ethnicity or religion. I saw only a generally reasoned and lively discussion of the issue.

Maybe some kind of "hate speech" errupted on the pages I didn't read, but discussing what tax-payer-funded benefits illegal aliens should be able to take advantage of does not qualify as "hate speech" to me.

The situation described at KSU is intolerable. Whether the OP should stay and try to fight it or just go elsewhere I cannot say. It depends how the OP would feel about it in the future, I would say. Certainly there is no educational reason to put up with it.

[CCG]

I agree transfer right away, come back to florida! or anywhere else would be better than KSU. I always held KSU in high reputation, but now I feel disgust towards the school.

I dont know how you did it, if I were you and someone told me ooo I dont want you to be my lab partner because your hispanic, I promise you they wouldnt be learning anything for a long time! These issues anger me, I mean its 2008, and college students are soppose to be a smarter bunch than the ignorant mass that create these stereotypes. I guess some people out there are just dumb as hell.

DlP what highschool did you go to? and what county? I wonder if it was more diverse than mine.

[Citan]

hopefully they will make a hallmark movie out of your ordeal someday

[mom2three]

DLP -
I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. I teach high school in Florida, and it breaks my heart to think of my students graduating and going on to experience what you are going through.

I am white, so my response to racist comments from people I know may not work for you. I call them on it. A widening of the eyes, and a mildly shocked (as if you can't believe what you think you just heard) "I beg your pardon?" has worked for me in making people hear what they just said. Usually there is some kind of excuse or attempt to pass the offensive remark off as humor, but a facial expression of disgust usually lets the offender know I'm not buying it.

Doesn't cure racism, but those folks generally stop making those comments in my general vicinity.

You have also gotten some excellent advice here. You seem like a very strong person, and you will probably be able to weather this, if you choose. But great schools with great, open atmospheres are BEGGING for qualified African-American students. Consider a transfer.