For the past two semesters, I have attended a predominately white institution, Salisbury University. Before coming to Salisbury, I went to public schools where most of the population consisted of African-Americans, so I hung around people who looked like me.
However, when I decided to attend Salisbury last year, I knew that I was in for a new experience.
Although I have enjoyed my time being on campus, and I love the friends that I have made so far at Salisbury, there are still some issues that I have noticed in these last two semesters.
- Student Activities Fairs/People outside the Commons
On the two occasions that our campus has had a Student Activities Fair, I have noticed something about the way some students promote the clubs/organizations on campus. When I would pass by tables that display a sport or a sorority, the students that would be around those tables promoting that club would look past me and start talking to someone who was behind me.
However, there is no denying that race could also be a reason in how students apart of these clubs/organizations recruit people.
The Student Activities Fair is not the only time I felt like my race was an issue for some people. Sometimes when students or staff members have tables set out outside the Commons, it seems like they pick who they want to give out information to.
Once again, I could be looking too far into the situation since a few of my other friends who are not black have expressed to me the same thing.
But in a world where prejudice and discrimination still exist, I think it its fair for me to think that race might have something to do with whether I receive certain information.
- Looks/Sidewalk interactions
It’s no secret that I am black, and I attend a predominately white institution. That’s a mere fact. So, with that in mind, I am bound to receive weird looks from my white counterparts around campus.
When I am walking with my friends, whether its to the Commons, back to our dorms, or to class, I noticed people giving either me or my friends weird looks.
Not only do I notice them staring at me or my friends strangely, I have also noticed that some of them think they have the right of passage on the sidewalks. When they pass by me, some of them have either bumped into me or they wait until I move over to the side just, so they can get by.
It’s honestly annoying because no one should ever feel like they must step off the sidewalk or move really close to their friend just to let someone walking in the opposite direction pass by.
- Racist Comments
When I attended a Powerful Connections (Multicultural Alliance Organization) meeting last semester, the staff behind this organization asked us if we had experienced any discriminatory acts on campus.
One student who lives in Pocomoke Hall mentioned how she found out that someone wrote on a message board on one of the doors, “No colored people allowed.” Everyone in the room including myself were in shocked hearing this news.
Another experience that shocked me was that of my friend’s. In her hall, a white, male student made a “joke” that having intercourse with a black person is like having intercourse with dirt. She told me that she cried after she heard that because she is a dark-skinned female and she took that comment to heart.
Although I am aware that we attend a PWI and that sort of thing might occur, it’s still upsetting to hear that people still have those feelings towards minorities.
Despite those two issues, I have been genuinely surprised by the next two things I am about to mention.
- The overall climate on campus is nice and friendly
Here at Salisbury, it seems like almost everyone is nice and civil to one another. The students here are nice, approachable, and easy to talk to. My professors have been helpful resources. Many of the staff members here, especially those who work at the Commons, are sweet and love interacting with the students.
I do not know why I am so surprised by this, since I felt welcomed when I took a tour of this campus late 2016, Admitted Students Day and Orientation 101. I am just glad that I have such a loving and supportive community here on campus.
- My great roommate experience
As I stated before in my article “The Unexpected Roommate”, I was paired with a great and supportive roommate. I would never have thought that Kristy and I would become close friends and hang out as much as we do.
Although I did not mention this in my previous article, I feel like it is important for me to discuss. Over the summer, Kristy gave me her twitter name after I asked her for it. Once I typed up her twitter name in the search engine, I immediately noticed that she was white.
Although I have always been open-minded to meeting and befriending people who are outside of my race, attending predominately black schools meant I always had friends who were the same skin color as me.
Despite our differing skin colors, Kristy and I continue to be great friends and civil roommates to one another.
All in all, I am happy that I decided to attend Salisbury University because if I had chosen to go to another school, I do not think I would have had the same experience as I had here.