<p>Dlp,</p>
<pre><code>? Is Berea free for out-of-state students?
From your early posts, it seemed like you had things going on that
</code></pre>
<p>make you want to stay. So I'm happy for you. </p>
<pre><code> What did you think about the Americorps info that Northstarmom
</code></pre>
<p>posted?</p>
<p>Dlp -- So glad you looked up Berea. I'm concerned that on top of all the racism issues, if you stay where you are next year, you'll accumulate even more debt. If Berea worked for you, not only would you be in a supportive, nurturing, academically stimulating environment, but you wouldn't owe any more money, which could mean a lot to you when you graduate.</p>
<p>This is one of the reasons I did not want my son to attend the HBCU he was accepted to, with a full ride. I thought he would feel totally out of place. I think the only reason they gave him the scholarship was that he was white(he has good scores in SAT/GPA, but not anything that other schools "paid" for him to go to). So he is starting at a more diverse OOS school. So if you feel totally unhappy, then you should go, but it seems like you are making the best of it, with a new dorm and other great outside activities too. I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>
[quote]
This is one of the reasons I did not want my son to attend the HBCU he was accepted to, with a full ride. I thought he would feel totally out of place.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Interesting. I have been following the Morehouse student, first white student to be their valedictorian. In interview, he mentioned that he went to a racially diverse high school and gravitated towards the black community of friendship during h.s. So he entered feeling a comfort level. </p>
<p>More importantly, he didn't encounter the kind of blistering racism that this OP found among some at KSU. That val's younger brother is enrolling in Sept. as a freshman at Morehouse. All to the credit of "Morehouse Men" who come to Atlanta. That includes Dr. Martin Luther King who grew up there, and others in a 150-year history from OOS (Bill Cosby, too? I think so..)</p>
<p>I think a big shock to the OP was encountering racism among some, not all, of the KSU students when she arrived. She hadn't heard such awfulness from her more diverse community upbringing in Florida.</p>
<p>I've taught and consulted at HBCUs, including a couple that were located in the same cities as mainstream universities, and that allowed students from the mainstream universities to take classes at the HBCUs (and vice versa).</p>
<p>Typically, the white students from the mainstream campuses took such classes only to fulfill their majors (which is understandable due to the inconvenience), and came with a lot of trepedation. To a person, they were delighted with the friendliness and caring of the professors and the students at the HBCUs.</p>
<p>Professors knew their names, and went far out of their way to help the students, including white students from other colleges. People walking by on the campus would speak.</p>
<p>The white students who attended the HBCU were welcome as club officers and participants, including one who was on the dance team.</p>
<p>In fact, a former student who eventually got a postgraduate fellowship to Harvard was white, and continues to stay in touch virtually like a family member, and has told everyone -- including her Harvard program -- that her success was due to the mentoring and education she got at an HBCU.</p>
<p>Being in a predominantly minority environment is a valuable and rare experience for whites to have. It's normal for for people of color who are professional or college students to have had some major experiences in which they are in the racial/ethnic minority, whether those experiences were in school or on the job. One learns a lot through such experiences. </p>
<p>Whites, however, usually miss out on the valuable education about society and themselves that one obtains by being in the minority.</p>
<p>Dlp108 --</p>
<p>Since it was mentioned, thought Id 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 Bereas 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 wasnt declared unconstitutional until the early 1950s. Bereas mission continued to be to educate students from the Appalachian region, although over the years what constituted that region expanded. Today I dont think students necessarily have to be from Appalachia, but many are. I believe there is also a financial restriction in that a familys income cant 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 <em>relatively</em> more conservative, more religious, and less sophisticated than many other LACs. 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 cant swing a cat without hitting either a preacher or a potter. :) How can it offer free tuition? Because <em>every</em> 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 its pretty much up to you. And having a job is required; if you dont 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; were not talking Bob Jones here). What I have no idea about is transfer students. Berea really has a unique mission, and its certainly not for everyone. I have no connection with school, so am just providing this for your info.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Nester-Message</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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".</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>you should consider transferring, i dont think it would be beneficial for you to go to college in such a backward and narrow-minded place</p>
<p>^ Neither Kansas State University (student population 23,000+) nor Manhattan, Kansas (population 45,000) are backward or narrow minded. It's unfortunate that the OP ran into a couple of idiots on campus, but they exist everywhere. Please don't generalize and lump everyone at K-State into the same category as the students (who are obviously morons) to whom the OP refers.</p>
<p>gbesq- I like how you demonstrated to the op that this would not be tolerated by the administration.</p>
<p>I am so upset hearing what you have experienced Dlp--although I think others are expressing support suggesting you leave, I agree with gbesq, it is the racist students who should be disciplined/discharged. If the school wanted you let them now help you with this issue. this is not something you should have to simply deal with on your own or run from. go to the dean and talk openly, explain how disturbing it was to you and also highlight your motivation to overcome this, your dedication to the residence halls. You deserve the school's support. If you ultimately choose to leave it should be a true choice, and not because these hateful students got what they wanted.</p>
<p>Why not transfer to U of Kansas? Kansas U and Lawrence, Kansas are liberal IN COMPARISON to KSU and Manhattan, Kansas. A similar split exists in Iowa. U of Iowa and Iowa City are much more liberal than Iowa State and Ames, Iowa. </p>
<p>You picked the right state but the wrong state school.</p>
<p>Dear OP,</p>
<p>I am absolutely shocked and disturbed that you have encountered such treatment. Certainly someone or some group on this campus needs to get involved. </p>
<p>You have my sympathies in regards to your treatment. Most people in this country would rather die, than behave as you've described.</p>
<p>To the original poster: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>I was on my own since age 18 and certainly agree with the sentiments that those that receive parental support should be grateful, and many take it for granted. </p></li>
<li><p>But as difficult as it can be without parental support you should not overlook the freedom that you have that comes with independent status. You need not check with Mom or Dad over decisions or issues and learn to be accountable to the person in the mirror. From experience, that form of independence lends it itself to a positive feeling of accomplishment. freedom, and a good sense of self. Do not fall into a pattern of feeling sorry for yourself; it can be get to be a habit and is not helpful. I look back on those days not as a period of victimhood, but of wonderful freedom of all kinds - including materialism. </p></li>
<li><p>I have no doubt you have experienced ugly racism. But must of the students and people in Manhattan, Kansas are not racists and it is important to put these incidents in perspective. If they are persistent enough, then fine, it is time to leave. But if the incidents are due to a few idiots, it is not in your interest to let idiots take any control over your future. </p></li>
<li><p>I was highly competitive in a sport and events dominated by black athletes. Most of my competitors were great guys and even better generally were colorful personalities that were fun to be around. A certain few were numbskulls, though, and were racist as can be towards whites. Racism is racism - wrong on all scores. They got away with it because of the mistaken belief (particularly common in universities) that only whites can be racist because they represent the dominant culture, but really, they were in the end just people to avoid. Not everyone judges people on the content of their character, but enough people do, and no matter where you go you should associate with those people in any event. </p></li>
<li><p>As I say, if you find the environment sufficiently hostile so it distracts you from your academic mission and personal happiness, then by all means leave. But you should ask yourself how you will deal with similar situations in other environments, because they will, although likely not frequent, occur again.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>OP has not posted on CC for over five months.</p>