<p>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.</p>
<p>Re post #41: I read 6 pages of that thread and didn't see anything that qualified as hate speech.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>DlP what highschool did you go to? and what county? I wonder if it was more diverse than mine.</p>
<p>hopefully they will make a hallmark movie out of your ordeal someday</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>Doesn't cure racism, but those folks generally stop making those comments in my general vicinity.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Wow, that's an awful situation. I am very sorry you have to experience that.</p>
<p>But I do want to thank you for posting about your experience on this forum: as a minority (Hispanic) I do not appreciate when people act as if racism is a "thing of the past" and do not understand the difficulties some people face. I am fortunate enough to have never encountered any obstacles, but I know very well that they exist and people need to know exactly how they exist. Some people often complain about how minorities may "self-segregate" and complain about minorities who feel uncomfortable entering overwhelmingly white scenarios, but there are unfortunately reasons that these things happen, and only by learning of the reasons can we attempt to work on a solution. Diversity was something important for me applying to college, and some of my friends (practically all are from American families) simply did not understand why it mattered. I don't often hang out at all with Hispanics, but it's comforting to know they're there.</p>
<p>You may also feel more comfortable, as many have suggested, transferring to a school with more diversity. Or you may choose to make the best of your current situation: obviously you've made the initiative, and I really hope your actions end up improving your situation significantly. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it is the best decision possible, and I wish you the best of luck in everything. Keep us updated.</p>
<p>(By the way, I am also from Florida. The schools here are great so if you do end up looking into transferring, I just want to say you can't go wrong with any public school here in regards to diversity, but I'm sure you know that.)</p>
<p>Ditch Kansas for some of the reasons posters are listing. I know it is hard to transfer and start over, but you may feel immense relief if you don't have to tilt at the windmill of so much backwardness for four years when you also have social needs. Loneliness is a factor in any college for young adult life but you don't have to endure this kind of isolation right at the time in your life where friendship matters so much! For your own self interest and so you can build friendships and networks in a state where you are not going to have to spend so much energy getting by and getting around cultural limitations and racial backwardness, consider transferring. Life at 18-20 is hard enough, especially if you are not blessed with parents who are great sounding boards/supports. By the way, I really hear you on that score. It is a loss to not have parents who are shepherding you during these years when you see other parents who are sacrificing and planning for the needs of their young adults. I am sure this is "coming home" to you in new and painful ways, but this is also a time for you to focus on how smart you are, how interested in learning you are, and how open you are to new people in your life who share your outlooks. Particularly since you feel the sting of not getting parental financial or emotional backing...you really ought to find a school that offers you a robust social life and students who showed up there precisely because they like diversity and consider a diverse college to be the norm. I am impressed with the jobs you took on at Kansas and with your open attitude to making it work..but you really should let yourself off the hook...you don't owe them anything, it is not your job to help them change if in exchange you get to have something of a four year social purgatory experience when you have a real need of a warm hearth social life. I am sure there are great people in Kansas, and maybe later on when your life is more developed and formed and fulfilled, you could "take" it...this is wrong for your needs right now. I do admire your spirit in getting there however, and I am sure you have been more than generous in your dealings with others. Bless you while you figure this all out...in the USA..you can find a better second home for your college years.</p>
<p>momof3sons-The BSU is quite small but today I did meet with the office that supports them, its called the diversity dual careers office. They we're extremely helpful and I'm soon going to be meeting with the associate dean of students and her to discuss what he is going to do to help me which is sooo much more then he has to do so I'm so thankful.</p>
<p>mamatata-That sounds amazing. Thats exactly what I want to do, attend medical school. Ill look into it.</p>
<p>paying3tuitions-Thank you for the information, I'm looking into it. I hate what goes on here and now passive the admin. are but I dont think leaving would do me any justice. I dont htink its far that I would have to leave to "fix" the issue some people have with people of a different race. I dont want to run away, I want to make a difference.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for the encouraging words. I'm trying to stay strong. Its depressing this time of year when its time to go home and parents are all over campus helping their kids move and Im just here alone....Thank you guys for the advice.</p>
<p>As you've received amazing (as usual) advice from people here, I only wanted to add my support. Keep us posted with updates and please come back anytime you need friends to lean on.</p>
<p>Judging from your last post, I assume that you want to stay. Regardless, I would still advise a transfer. At a university like that, if you don't face the blatant racism that you described, you'll definitely encounter it in a more subtle form. There are so many other diverse, engaging universities that you should really look into before you decide to remain in your current predicament.</p>
<p>Then again, I do think that it is admirable that you want to open the eyes of the ignorant with your presence. A bit idealistic, no doubt, but I think you'll manage to change the perspectives of a few of your classmates.</p>
<p>Success to you.</p>
<p>I am very sorry to hear about your situation at KSU, however, this is typical in our country today.
It is important for you to focus on your academics and ignore the racism. This is difficult to do, but you must understand this is a weapon of mass distraction. Your purpose is to learn and enhance your knowledge. A lot of what is happening to you will also occur in the workplace. A strong spritual foundation will help you.
Remember we are constantly learning and this is also a learning opportunity for you. Your experiences will allow you to help others.<br>
Stay strong!</p>
<p>I think you should think about transferring. If Kansas isn't working out for you, there's nothing wrong with going somewhere else that's a little more modern/educated/tolerant. You gave it a shot, and you didn't like it - that's fine, but don't leave yourself in this position when you have the opportunity to get out.</p>
<p>"I am very sorry to hear about your situation at KSU, however, this is typical in our country today."</p>
<p>That kind of racism is not typical of our country today. I'm black, 56, with sons 20, 24.</p>
<p>What the OP described was typical of our country back in the 1960s and before particularly when colleges were forced to integrate. It's not at all what people of color typically experience on college campuses. </p>
<p>I do wish that the OP would look into transferring. To have to endure such racism while also struggling to pay for college, and while not having family support is a challenge that I can't see any reasons to endure. There are plenty of colleges that are likely to be affordable and welcoming. </p>
<p>I can't see the point point of enduring high stress and a financial burden to go to college out of state in an unpleasant place particularly when one's home state likely has welcoming and affordable options where one also can get an education that is as good or better than what the OP has at KSU.</p>
<p>Dlp108,</p>
<p>Now that you've rallied us parents, I hope you will keep us updated. The
next thing you know, CC parents will be down there helping you move.</p>
<p>I started reading your thread yesterday and knew you would get well
reasoned advice here. It's no consolation now, but most of the students
that are rascist or worse yet, tolerating rascist comments will be embarrased looking back at their own behavior. You will be living well in your own bright
future.</p>
<p>I'm cheering for you whether you transfer or stay, I can see both sides.</p>
<p>CC parents: Isn't there a greater community at KSU that is disturbed by this?</p>
<p>I have had to work with young people from Kansas and from KSU, depite all the diversity and cultural training at the corporate level , these (white) people still mouth off blatant discrimatory remarks and sometime right in front of clients. I think once it's instilled in these kids from family to church groups to communities where they come from they think it's "normal".</p>
<p>Kansas, welcome to the 21st century.</p>
<p>FAQS</a> Racial Harassment -- Office for Civil Rights</p>
<p>What are the responsibilities of schools and colleges? </p>
<p>Prohibited discrimination occurs when a recipient condones, tolerates or allows a racially hostile environment that it knows about or when recipient's employees treat students differently because of their race.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should consider calling the Office of Civil Rights to discuss your situation:</p>
<p>Contact</a> OCR</p>
<p>Qui tacet consentit</p>
<p>Silence implies consent....
We all need to speak up in the face of such attitudes, comments, and behaviors. It should not be on the shoulders of a young person in already difficult circumstances to do so. </p>
<p>OP - I hope you find the support you need. On the other hand, the more I think about it, the more I hope you'll leave this place behind. 3 more years of this environment will surely affect your world view, and as others have pointed out, this kind of behavior is becoming the exception rather than the rule.</p>
<p>Dear Dlp,</p>
<p>There are times in life when digging in and confronting your problems, facing things and seeing them through, is character building. YOU ARE NOT IN ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS. You are a decent young person who is being the target of ugly, soul-bruising racism in an institution that is not meeting its moral or legal obligations to you. Nobody should have to put up with what you're experiencing. This is not what college is like all over; it is not what you will have to put up with elsewhere. Please listen to Northstarmom. You do not have to stick around in hell to fight the devil.</p>
<p>If you want to help KSU change, which will require the administration first to recognize that they are fostering a racially hostile environment, then as soon as you are safely out of there, print up your CC posts, sign your name, and send them to the president of the university; the university chaplain; the board of trustees; the local newspaper; the local NAACP; and of course, as Westcoastmom suggests, the OCR. (Follow the link in post #59.)</p>
<p>The university is going to have to deal with this classroom by classroom, dorm by dorm, hall by hall, and student by student. It will probably take an outside force to get this process going. KSU already knows what's happening to you; it's easier for them to do nothing, as with your RA's, who are blithely informing you that things are ever so much better than they were long ago while twiddling their thumbs. The reason Black and White and Hispanic parents from across the country are telling you that this is not alright is that it is NOT alright. It is something that every decent parent on here has seen in his or her lifetime and has hoped and prayed and worked to put behind us -- an ugly chapter of American history that is supposed to be over. </p>
<p>You are an intelligent young person studying to become a physician. You deserve an education in which racism doesn't distract you, depress you, and hold you back. Pre-meds have enough on their plates. Do yourself and your future patients a favor and leave those racist you-know-what's in your dust. The fact that there are a few helpful people at KSU is heartening, but not enough to make this a wholesome, supportive, good place for you. No, you shouldn't have to leave. It's inconvenient and scary to start over. KSU should be ashamed that they've created an atmosphere that is so toxic that they lose a student like you; but lose you they should because you need and deserve better.</p>
<p>There are times in life when digging in and confronting your problems, facing things and seeing them through, is character building. YOU ARE NOT IN ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS.</p>
<p>ITA</p>
<p>You would know better than I the obstacles you face because of skin color.</p>
<p>There are so many unavoidable circumstances that you will have to deal with-
but don't put yourself in a situation like this on purpose.</p>
<p>Transfer and after you do tell them why.</p>
<p>You have a long road ahead even if you went to the most supportive school in the country.</p>
<p>Living with bigotry and ignorance is not going to make you a better person or physician.
Please go somewhere that is more conducive to helping you achieve your goals.</p>
<p>( I would also be concerned that not only this would be soul-killing, but also may even be dangerous)</p>