Dublin Core
Title
Social/Academic Life: What has Changed?
Subject
Black Student Experience
Description
In interview #1, the student voices frustrations with her experiences at W&L. Rather than expanding upon the negative side of her experience, she outlines a variety of coping skills that she has developed to deal with the environment surrounding her. In particular, she describes negative interactions within her social life and relatively positive experiences in regards to her academic relations. Black students in 1997 largely experienced similar social reactions but their academic experiences seemed negative as well. Collectively, black academic success at Washington & Lee was unique in 1997. Students seemed content with their GPA’s and often expressed more concern with their social life. Were their academic performances a response to the social push during that era or increased negative results of their social life? Although this may be reflective of grade inflation over time, the theme was much too common. Questions such as these should be asked when reviewing the shift in black culture within a largely, white space.
In Interview #2, the student expressed a financial attachment to the university. The student explained that he was willing to deal with any negative occurrence within his social life because of his promised financial aid package. This student’s obligation to W&L is common theme among black students on this campus now and in the past. The student, additionally, described impressive academic successes during his time at W&L. Like the first interview, the student expresses discomfort within his social relations yet a visibly powerful academic standing. He overcomes a lot of social difficulties through leadership and the developing of a “thick skin.”
Both experiences highlight a shift in academic experiences; however, both interviews also reveal that the social culture at W&L has barely shifted. This lack of change is seemingly rooted within W&L’s systematic foundations. There is a lack of progress because of the lack of willingness to deviate from tradition.
In Interview #2, the student expressed a financial attachment to the university. The student explained that he was willing to deal with any negative occurrence within his social life because of his promised financial aid package. This student’s obligation to W&L is common theme among black students on this campus now and in the past. The student, additionally, described impressive academic successes during his time at W&L. Like the first interview, the student expresses discomfort within his social relations yet a visibly powerful academic standing. He overcomes a lot of social difficulties through leadership and the developing of a “thick skin.”
Both experiences highlight a shift in academic experiences; however, both interviews also reveal that the social culture at W&L has barely shifted. This lack of change is seemingly rooted within W&L’s systematic foundations. There is a lack of progress because of the lack of willingness to deviate from tradition.
Creator
Garrett Clinton
Publisher
Garrett Clinton
Date
May 17th, 2018