It took the majority of my high school experience to finally find my safe space. In a school setting a safe space is way more than a classroom; it’s finding a secure group of friends or a faculty member that you’re comfortable talking to. From having to constantly interact with privileged white students to debating faculty on the appropriateness of their lessons, I was in need of a space where I could just be myself and not have to defend my existence or right to be there.
Handling the transition from high school to college is a challenging experience for any first year student. You are juggling moving away from home if you have decided to live on campus, getting to know the new environment, and keeping up with new, rigorous school work. On a PWI campus, Black and Brown students have an added responsibility of finding a safe space on campus.
This is why it is important for PWIs to make more of an effort to have safe spaces on campus for their students. Physical safe spaces, like cultural centers, in accessible locations would be extremely beneficial for students at these institutions. It gives students of color a space to debrief as well as build a reliable and welcoming community on campus. Higher education institutions can also hire a more diverse staff in order to create safe spaces for their students.
Many of these institutions pride themselves in their increasing diversity rates but do nothing to accommodate these smaller communities within their campus. All students want is to be seen and heard. By uplifting minority communities on college campuses and making an effort to prioritize their voices, students will holistically do better and feel valued.
From joining or attending meetings of cultural clubs that interest me to finding any way to speak with a Black faculty member, I have made quite the effort to find my safe space as a third year student at Temple University. Although it is possible to create your own safe space on campus, higher education institutions should be inclined to create a space for their Black and Brown students to feel a sense of belonging and create a campus culture that promotes inclusion and safety.
civicnation Modern day segregation. Everything MLK fought for is going down the crapper.
civicnation Report this account for being racist.
civicnation White and colorless people talk none sense.
civicnation No..no they don't. They need same opps as all students.
civicnation Black students want a safe place on campus? Go to a HBCU.
civicnation lol stfu
civicnation The bigotry of low expectations.
civicnation What kind of sick world are we going back to? Do you want to create ghettos for your students?
civicnation Here you go with the non-existent black and brown alliance
civicnation Nope, we are just fine. This is nuts.
civicnation Black and brown students? What the F. Their normal/equal people just like anybody else. The divide and conquer crap is getting old.
civicnation good