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

[JustaGuy]

Dlp108 --

Since it was mentioned, thought I’d follow up with some additional info about Berea. It is a small LAC located in a small Kentucky town. Since it is private there is no OS/OOS tuition; in fact there is no tuition all – students attend for free. While not top-ranked, it is a good school academically, one that will provide a sound education. It also provides a very nurturing and supportive environment. Berea was founded initially to provide an education for poor Appalachian students and was open to both black and white, something very unusual in the South following the Civil War. In fact it was because of Berea’s policy that the Kentucky legislature passed the infamous Day Law in the early 20th century that legally instituted educational segregation for all schools (public & private) at all levels. This wasn’t declared unconstitutional until the early 1950’s. Berea’s mission continued to be to educate students from the Appalachian region, although over the years what constituted that region expanded. Today I don’t think students necessarily have to be from Appalachia, but many are. I believe there is also a financial restriction in that a family’s income can’t be over a certain amount for a student to be eligible. So the student body will include many less-affluent students from the Southern Appalachian region. That means students from Knoxville and Asheville as well as students from Frog Hollow. This also means students will have the cultural background of that region – *relatively* more conservative, more religious, and less sophisticated than many other LAC’s. Berea is also home to a large group of Southern Appalachian arts and crafts people, so as one friend who went there described it “You can’t swing a cat without hitting either a preacher or a potter.” How can it offer free tuition? Because *every* student has a campus job. This might mean working in the library, or it could mean mowing grass. The college finds you your first job, but after that it’s pretty much up to you. And having a job is required; if you don’t feel like working this semester, you will be politely asked to leave. Pros: free tuition, good education, attractive campus, nurturing environment. Cons: work requirement, small college, small town, more conservative & religious student body (and by this I mean relatively; we’re not talking Bob Jones here). What I have no idea about is transfer students. Berea really has a unique mission, and it’s certainly not for everyone. I have no connection with school, so am just providing this for your info.

[Dlp108]

spideygirl-I've sent you the link to the PET program at my high school. I joined 9th grade because I wanted to be a Marine Biologist but I changed my mind to just Biology, Pre-medicine. There are a lot of schools that I have found that offer a lot of need-based aid but my issue is if they will consider me independent? And the application fee are so expensive that I haven't tried. You have to have a reduced lunch-free lunch waiver to apply for free. Though my mom was a single mother we did more then well so I never qualified for the free help.

cottonwood513-I'm giving it another shot. Mostly because of my commitment to be involved in the residence halls. I'm either moving out of the dorms the following year (09-10) or transferring back home to Florida. It seems that Berea is free to anyone who applies and gets admitted. out of state and international. I think Americorps is amazing, a chance to help people and do things you would never get to do else where and make money for college and I think they give out grants as well. It's just a matter of taking a year off to do it.

Nester-Message

bogart-Yeah, Some people might not understand that but it's just like my situation just opposites. I'm glad your son found somewhere else that will fit him better. You never know how much a college should fit you till you get there and find out that your completely out of place.

Northstarmom-That is an awesome experience. Before I came to BSU I didn't want to go to a HBCU because it wasn't diverse but being here makes me want to run there and stay put lol sometimes but I embrace diversity so much that I want to go somewhere where I meet people from parts of the world I would never think of like in high school. I need to realize that not everything in life is going to be that simple and comfortable for me, but it would make me smile if I told someone "wow, I need a perm" and they actually know what I meant.

JustaGuy-thank you for all that information. My friend thinks its to good to be true, he said "next thing you know they will offer you a car".

[gbesq]

OP,

I am so sorry to hear that you've experienced racism at K-State. My daughter is a student there and I can assure you that neither she, nor any of her friends at K-State, would tolerate the behavior that you describe if they had observed it. Sadly, at ANY university with 23,000 students, you're going to encounter some neanderthals. If you haven't done so already, I would encourage you to discuss your situation with Dean Bosco. He is a terrific person and can put you in touch with the right people and resources on campus to help you deal with the matter. I also hope that you reported the two girls who you mentioned in your post to your RA. Their behavior is inexcusable, it would be taken very seriously by K-State's administration, and the girls would, at a minimum, be disciplined and might very well be expelled --and deservedly so. Despite the opinions of some of the other posters on this forum -- who have evidently never been to Kansas nor to K-State -- offensive behavior of this kind is no more tolerated at K-State than it is any other university in this country. It's a shame that the appalling behavior of a few idiots makes it that much more difficult for the vast majority of K-Staters who are friendly, decent, open-minded human beings. Best of luck to you.