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Senior: IST major
Senior: Political Science and French Major
Senior: Hospitality Major
Senior: Marketing Management/Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
The purpose of this blog is to provide minority college students at Syracuse University with a place where they can connect with other minority students in order to share their experiences, feelings, struggles and successes throughout their undergraduate and graduate years. This blog is a positive environment that encourages all to participate.
Kevin Dong
Senior: IST major
Interview with Kevin
1. Do you feel as though your college experience as a minority student is different from the college experience of a white student? If so in what ways?
Yes, the environments that I am in are different from the environments that white students are in. I feel that I place myself in different environments compared to the average white student.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
It has changed in the sense that in the beginning I felt that there were a lot of things that I couldn’t change but nowadays I observe a lot more from minority students that I don’t really agree with, in terms of efforts and expectations from minority students. I do not see a strong work ethnic among minority students but I hear a lot of complaining. Yes some come from economically lower class and because of this have different struggles but despite this I still don’t see effort being put in.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I would say social struggles because they are the majority at this school, a lot of the environments have been created for them and refined based on the majority. Because of this they can experience a normal day of school without having to think outside the box.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
For the most part, most of the time I feel like I don’t always share the same concerns because I am not really struggling when it comes to financial status. Everything is expensive and doesn’t come easy to my family but I am not in as bad of financial situation as some of my other friends.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these services?
For the most part I would say yes. There can definitely be improvements, there is always room for more but we are not seriously disadvantaged right now.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
Create more opportunities for minority students to enjoy school activities and events with majority students. There needs to be encouragement for collaboration, we have been doing that buts it’s been moving in small steps.
Yes, the environments that I am in are different from the environments that white students are in. I feel that I place myself in different environments compared to the average white student.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
It has changed in the sense that in the beginning I felt that there were a lot of things that I couldn’t change but nowadays I observe a lot more from minority students that I don’t really agree with, in terms of efforts and expectations from minority students. I do not see a strong work ethnic among minority students but I hear a lot of complaining. Yes some come from economically lower class and because of this have different struggles but despite this I still don’t see effort being put in.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I would say social struggles because they are the majority at this school, a lot of the environments have been created for them and refined based on the majority. Because of this they can experience a normal day of school without having to think outside the box.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
For the most part, most of the time I feel like I don’t always share the same concerns because I am not really struggling when it comes to financial status. Everything is expensive and doesn’t come easy to my family but I am not in as bad of financial situation as some of my other friends.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these services?
For the most part I would say yes. There can definitely be improvements, there is always room for more but we are not seriously disadvantaged right now.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
Create more opportunities for minority students to enjoy school activities and events with majority students. There needs to be encouragement for collaboration, we have been doing that buts it’s been moving in small steps.
Kirssy Gonzalez
Senior: Political Science and French Major
Interview with Kirssy
1. Do you feel as though your college experience as a minority student is different from the college experience of a white student? If so in what ways?
Yes I think that my experiences are different from a white student because I am from an economically lower class and I have to strive to get financial aid and get work study at the same that I have to be a scholar. Also because I am the first person to go to college in my family and I had to find out about college myself because my family does not understand the procedures or requirements for college. Also I am the first in my family with the opportunity to go to graduate school. Many white students have the privilege of having family members who have attended college and can help them with the process. Also in classroom discussions I sometimes have to do outside research in order to be able to inform white classmates of the experiences of other races when they are unaware.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
While in High School I understood that a lot of the experiences Latinos in the United States were similar to those of African Americans. Being in college has taught me that the issue is much more complicated to describe and that they have experienced oppression for such a long time because they live in - and have failed to unite forces to combat - the white supremacist patriarchal international social systems.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I think it’s a combination of things because a lot of the struggles that I go through such as financial stress and being first person in my family to go to college are some of the same things that white students experience but not to the same degree that I experience them.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
Yes I can also relate to white people we all have things in common.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these services?
It is not just that they don’t provide adequate resources for minority students but that they don’t provide adequate resources for first generation undergraduate students. They assume that you should know what you should accomplish in college and know how to find a job after graduation even though no one in your family has been through the same process.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
More funding should be given to organizations that promote diversity on campus so that organizations have the money in order to mentor students and provide a place where students can gather with other students of different racial, ethnic and sexual backgrounds.
Yes I think that my experiences are different from a white student because I am from an economically lower class and I have to strive to get financial aid and get work study at the same that I have to be a scholar. Also because I am the first person to go to college in my family and I had to find out about college myself because my family does not understand the procedures or requirements for college. Also I am the first in my family with the opportunity to go to graduate school. Many white students have the privilege of having family members who have attended college and can help them with the process. Also in classroom discussions I sometimes have to do outside research in order to be able to inform white classmates of the experiences of other races when they are unaware.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
While in High School I understood that a lot of the experiences Latinos in the United States were similar to those of African Americans. Being in college has taught me that the issue is much more complicated to describe and that they have experienced oppression for such a long time because they live in - and have failed to unite forces to combat - the white supremacist patriarchal international social systems.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I think it’s a combination of things because a lot of the struggles that I go through such as financial stress and being first person in my family to go to college are some of the same things that white students experience but not to the same degree that I experience them.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
Yes I can also relate to white people we all have things in common.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these services?
It is not just that they don’t provide adequate resources for minority students but that they don’t provide adequate resources for first generation undergraduate students. They assume that you should know what you should accomplish in college and know how to find a job after graduation even though no one in your family has been through the same process.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
More funding should be given to organizations that promote diversity on campus so that organizations have the money in order to mentor students and provide a place where students can gather with other students of different racial, ethnic and sexual backgrounds.
Erica Hurtt
Senior: Hospitality Major
interview with erica
1. Do you feel as though your college experience as a minority student is different from the college experience of a white student? If so in what ways?
Yes, because I for one I think it depends on what major your in. my major is mostly white students and I feel like for number one I stick out in a bad way. For example there was an opportunity available for Hospitality Management students to do planning at Syracuse Invitational and I looked around and got harsh looks, looks of ill will and I realized it was because I was the only black person in the room. I feel like my major is not catered to people who are not white. And another reason that I feel that my experience is different on a social aspect is because I embrace a different culture and lifestyle from white students. Our experiences before college were different and our experiences throughout college are different.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
Well freshman year I did not really think much about being black or a female on this campus. Until I met people on this campus who kept on asking me “what are you” and I would respond I am black and this was not a sufficient enough answer, people asked me no but where are you from. This was something that I was not used to because back home if you are black you are black point blank. In Syracuse it is about what you are before you are. I feel like it is a way to sanction and separate students on this campus and this was not something that I expected at a higher learning institute.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I feel like everyone in college has different struggles, I do not know what the struggles of white students are therefore I cannot say whether or not white students face the same struggles that I do.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
No because they are narrow minded individuals.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these services?
No I do not feel that Syracuse University provides adequate resources.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
Peer advising that is more diverse and orientation just for minority students.
Yes, because I for one I think it depends on what major your in. my major is mostly white students and I feel like for number one I stick out in a bad way. For example there was an opportunity available for Hospitality Management students to do planning at Syracuse Invitational and I looked around and got harsh looks, looks of ill will and I realized it was because I was the only black person in the room. I feel like my major is not catered to people who are not white. And another reason that I feel that my experience is different on a social aspect is because I embrace a different culture and lifestyle from white students. Our experiences before college were different and our experiences throughout college are different.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
Well freshman year I did not really think much about being black or a female on this campus. Until I met people on this campus who kept on asking me “what are you” and I would respond I am black and this was not a sufficient enough answer, people asked me no but where are you from. This was something that I was not used to because back home if you are black you are black point blank. In Syracuse it is about what you are before you are. I feel like it is a way to sanction and separate students on this campus and this was not something that I expected at a higher learning institute.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I feel like everyone in college has different struggles, I do not know what the struggles of white students are therefore I cannot say whether or not white students face the same struggles that I do.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
No because they are narrow minded individuals.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these services?
No I do not feel that Syracuse University provides adequate resources.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
Peer advising that is more diverse and orientation just for minority students.
Jamar Phillips
Senior: Marketing Management/Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
Interview with Jamar
1. Do you feel as though your college experience as a minority student is different from the college experience of a white student? If so in what ways?
Yes socially and academically. Socially it is very different because of the financial status of minority students compared to white students. White students prefer to go out to the bars and minority students prefer to attend house parties where there is no money being spent. Academically there seems to be a more relaxed nature in the way that white students approach their school work compared to minority students. Minority students feel as though they must work harder in order to compete in a white world.
2. How has your perception of being a minority on this campus changed since freshman year, if it has even changed?
My perception of being a minority student has changed because in my opinion back then the segregation between white and minority and within minority population was not as extreme as it is now. It is still fascinating to me that this is still happening. It is segregated residentially and socially. I do not know the specific numbers but I know that a lot of students on south campus are African American and also it is mostly evident in social gatherings. It is kind of interesting that there has been a shift from getting to know campus community and learning about other cultures to only embracing own culture and not making effort to learn about other cultures.
3. Being a minority student on this campus what struggles do you face that you feel white students do not face?
I feel as though there is more pressure on me to succeed academically. That there is a need to keep up with the white students and if I do not keep up academically with the white students then I fall into stereotype. The pressure mostly comes from my parents and also sometimes from minority professors.
4. Do you feel that you can relate to other minority students on this campus?
I feel as though I can relate to any student on this campus regardless of race/ethnic background or sexual orientation. I do not see myself as a minority student; I see myself as a student.
5. Does Syracuse University provide adequate resources for minority students on campus? Have you used any of these resources?
Yes I feel that Syracuse University does provide adequate resources for minority students however I feel as though they fail at promoting these services to students. I have used counseling services and I found them to be very useful.
6. What changes would you make to Syracuse University in order to improve the college experience of future minority students?
I would try to promote more integration between the races on campus in every aspect: socially, academically etc.
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About Me
- Mel
- senior social work and spanish major
5 comments:
Looks like an interesting space. Will you tell us your own story?
JJ
very interesting topics. On this campus they make it very well known that you are a minority. They make you choose to either identify with what they label you as or identify with the "other".
I really liked the honesty with which people answered the questions. Being a fellow minority at Syracuse University I can resonate with the stories that have been told. I believe that these stories are the same for other minorities at college campuses that are mostly White across the nation. These four students' stories are excellent examples of how minorities feel at college campuses.
I thought it was very interesting what people had to say. Overall, i think this campus does a great job for integrating minorities. Plus, we have a fairly high minority population. As an African American i can honestly say that some people get very picky and complain there isn't enough AA or Hispanic populations on campus. But i don't think that is SU's fault. There are millions of other reasons why the minority presence on campus does not match those of the whites and that extends all the way back to the education systems and environments that we grow up in. I think people should be happy with the numbers we have on this campus considering we are ranked in the top 50th. Unless you are looking at an HBC, you wont see these kind of numbers anywhere else from a private university.
Blair: Psychology major
Compared to other private institutions, SU is fairly diverse and has welcomed people of many ethnically and economically diverse backgrounds. Although institutional racism continues to exist, I feel that as the years progress, race will be less of an issue and our financial backgrounds will become a major part of our perceived identity.
I feel that students of color underestimate the opportunities that SU has to offer and complain too much on how they have it harder than a white person on campus. Yes, white people on campus might have more networking opportunities because they outnumber people of color but this gives us more of a reason to put twice as much of the work in and prove to them that we have earned our way to this institution.
-Carolyn Biology major
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