Nickira Anderson

J325

11/21/2011

The Life of a Historically Black College or University Student

“There’s something about being a student at an HBCU that I cannot explain” says sophomore Josh Perrin of Hampton University. “Sometimes I wish I went to a traditional school like USC or UGA because of things like the big football games and a more diverse population but I quickly snap out of it and remember why I love going to an HBCU.” HBCU stand for historically black college or university and are erected all through out the south in the United States. HBCU’s were established because blacks couldn’t attend school with whites back in American history, so they started institutions where blacks could get a good education. Since their establishments, HBCU’s have flourished and decayed. Historically black college’s and universities are different from other traditional institutions.

“There are tons of differences that set HBCU’s apart from the rest of the schools, even little things like fried chicken wednesdays” says senior Darien Grant who is also Miss South Carolina State University 2011. “There is a sense of security, I know all of my professors and have obtained amazing connections all because of that personable relationship I have with my school.” Most HBCU’s are private with smaller populations and predominantly african american.  Although most of the students are african american, there are students who are other races that attend these schools. Hampton University and Howard University have the highest number of non-black students out of HBCU’s because of their prestige. HBCU’s are also filled with history. For example, the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation was read aloud on the campus of Hampton University, freeing the first set of slaves in the 1800‘s. Another positive to HBCU’s are some have academic programs that allow them to be on the fast track to graduation. Patience Canty of Hampton University graduated from Mauldin High School in 2010. Her expected graduation date is 2014 but since she’s in the pharmacy program she will graduate in 2016 with a Ph.D.

Although there are many positives about HBCU’s, there are also negatives. One of the biggest problems that many HBCU’s face are general maintenance of the schools. Due to their private status, HBCU’s don’t get much government funding. If there isn’t much funding from the government, then how are they getting money? Expensive tuition rates and alumni donations are ways that HBCU’s receive funding, but combined still isn’t enough to up keep the institutions. The biggest factor is that programs are being taken away because there isn’t enough money to cover them. “I know that the athletic programs are suffering and departments are starting to cut down on certain things. I heard the other day that Howard’s (University) mass communications department is closing because there is no money to keep it open” says senior Kevin Precia at Benedict College. Physical maintenance of the schools is often the problem also. “Seriously there were raccoons living in the roof of my dorm, you could hear them at night” says sophomore Rian Hayes at Hampton University. Since most HBCU’s were built decades ago, the facilities are old and have failed to be renovated. “One thing I hate about being at an HBCU is that everything isn’t laid out like it is at USC, none of the offices like registrar or financial aid is organized so it  makes it harder to get stuff together” says Precia. This problem also goes back to lack of financial support. If HBCU’s had the money that traditional schools get to up keep their schools, a lot of problems would be solved. 

“I just love being in a class with people my own race, because back in high school I was always the only black kid, now i’m not” says Grant. Being a student at an HBCU is special route of experience that many students chose to take. Although they give up huge rivalry football games, the risk of their programs being cut, and general academic organization, they still find a way to make their experience worth it. The sense of family that students feel at their school is the main reason they love to be students at HBCU’s. “I feel like my professors are my parents and my classmates are my brothers and sisters, it’s just one big family” says Marty Dennis of Claflin University. HBCU’s are very distinct and have left their mark on the United States as a necessity to our society. 

Story 1: Does USC Really Help Transfer Students Adjust to Their New Life as a Gamecock?

Nickira Anderson

Jour 325

31 October 2011

Story 1

Does USC Really Help Transfer Students Adjust to Their New Life as a Gamecock?

“If we didn’t know each other or know people what are already students here, I don’t know what we would do” says sophomore transfer student, Ashley Bankhead from Greenville Technical College. “Yeah I agree, knowing people here already has made this transition a lot more smooth, and I wonder how students who don’t have connections here feel, it must suck” said sophomore Andrea Foster. Often times, there are two sides that transfers student stand on. One side being the side that has friends and connections that can help them settle into their new lives smoothly and the other side having the ones who don’t know anything about Carolina. Either way transferring to the University of South Carolina can be a demanding task, but the truth is USC does not do their best on helping transfer students transfer smoothly.

For most transfer students coming to USC is exciting and a relief from what they are leaving behind from their previous institutions and it should feel that way, but what happens when it doesn’t go that way. “I know when I came, I didn’t know anything about how selective housing was, so I came here thinking that I was going to live on campus which would have worked out great since I didn’t have a car at the time but when I found out how housing was scarce I had to get an apartment and a car, so now I’m stuck with two monthly bills to pay” says Michael Williams, a junior who transferred from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “I personally don’t think USC helps as much as my old school did, because in Alabama they have transfer student clubs and social events to get people acquainted but here, they’re focused more on getting the freshmen settled and forget about us” said Williams.

“I could go on and on all day about how unprepared I was for USC.” “Down to the housing, to the parking, to student advisement, to how to get tickets to the games, its overwhelming and it really turned me off from getting to know people and USC as a school for a second, I was over it especially since I didn’t know anyone and I hated being here but I am just now liking it more” says sophomore Tessa Barnett who transferred from Lander University. For those students who don’t rely on connections to flourish at USC find it more difficult to adjust. “I mean there was so much to know, I mean little things like I didn’t know I could park in Bull Street garage and pay a dollar for an hour.” “Before I knew that, I was getting tickets on Greene Street like crazy” said Barnett. 

Although USC has offices and designated faculty to help transfer students adjust but they are hidden. They aren’t publicized as much as they should be. There should be flyers or something to let the transfers know that there is something out there for them to help them. Also a club or social/support group should be active on campus for those students who need extra help adjusting to their new life as a gamecock. When asked about knowing about offices and personnel that are for transfers, Bankhead had no idea. “I have no idea about that, I didn’t know that existed, they should promote it better, especially because their dealing with people who don’t know anything about USC.”

Overall, getting use to a new environment is a task that can be daunting period, but getting use to a new college is hard. These uneasy feelings that transfer students experience can cause them to be turned off from USC and be disappointed, but some students don’t let this experience hold them back from enjoying being a gamecock. Students who come from a small school could get intimidated by a bigger environment and students who come from same size or bigger schools could be disappointed and unimpressed with what they’re use to. Either way, USC needs to do something to help transfer students feel more comfortable and confident about being a new gamecock. “I hope that USC gets it together for next year so that the transfers next year won’t feel like we did” says Foster. “But at the end of the day, I’m still glad to be a gamecock now”.