This semester, The Hum team interviewed students of color and students for whom English is a second language, or ESL students, about their experience at American University, a predominantly white institution, or PWI. The new episode explores the prejudices students face, the expectations that society sets, how much support ESL students get from AU and the umbrella term “students of color.”
Tyler Brown Dewese is a Black AU student who also attended a PWI in high school, an all-boys Catholic school in New Rochelle, New York. He said that although the only major difference between AU and his high school was the campus’ political leanings, he’s found more of a community at AU. Dewese is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically Black fraternity.
“I’m very known around the African American community,” Dewese said. “It’s small, but you know, we all know each other.”
Dewese said that he has no issue with the term “people of color.”
“That’s exactly what we are,” Dewese said. “We are students of color. We are people of color. And there’s nothing wrong in saying that. We’re literally embracing our identity, whether it be in Black or Latino or Asian American, it doesn’t matter. That’s just who we are.”
Dewese said he appreciates university resources like the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the Anti-Racist Research Center, in addition to classes focused on civil rights in the School of Public Affairs.
A place Dewese said he hasn’t seen as much diversity is in the people teaching his classes. He said while he knows of other Black professors at AU, Dewese, who is currently in his third year, has only had two.
Another student interviewed for The Hum, Elsie Bustamante, has also had problems with professors relating to her identity. Bustamante is from Peru, and her first language is Spanish. She said because her first language was not English, professors make assumptions about her or her work.
Bustamante described one experience where she asked for an extension on an assignment, and the professor assumed it was because English is not her first language, even though her reason for asking for the extension was unrelated.
Other students from different identities and backgrounds shared their experiences on the podcast. Listen to the newest episode of The Hum on your preferred podcast platform to hear their stories!
