Drawing the Line: The DC University Seperation

Have you ever heard of Buff and Blue? Blue and Gray? Maybe even Red and Black? No these are not just random colors; these are the athletic colors of George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Catholic University. However, only eight out of 30 surveyed Howard University students could tie these colors to their District of Colombia universities.

The lack of unity and connection between the Districts colleges and universities has now become evident. It has also become evident that many students have not ventured off of their campus. However, knowledge about other DC universities seems especially foreign to Howard students.  Five out of the eight Howard students that matched the university colors correctly were athletes who happened to remember the jersey colors. The other three Howard students were residents of the University Town Center.

The Towers at University Town Center, located in Hyattsville, Maryland hosts students from a variety different DC and Maryland universities. Students migrate to UTC due to university housing issues or simply because it offers a freedom that is hard to find on campus.

Since UTC puts so many students from different universities in one place, they must be connecting, right? Maybe having intellectual conversations over tea about the virtues and vices of their institutions, maybe even singing Alma maters to each other over a campfire. However, according to Delsheka Palmer, an HU Sophomore Biology major, "UTC provides a lot of opportunities to interact through social events, but I don't go." Many UTC residents share this attitude.

"It's easy to get consumed with Howard and forget what others are doing" Palmer said.

Miyisha Tribble, Sophomore Political Science major, says that she has friends that attend other universities as a result of living in UTC. She goes on to suggest that Howard should put on an event on the yard where every school has a tent so that students can walk around and get to know the local universities. This idea would introduce many students to knowledge about the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan area.

The Consortium allows students from 2 DC colleges and 12 DC universities and to take classes and use resources at universities other than their. Even with opportunities such as the consortium, many feel there are still not enough opportunities for students to interact.

Florence Aribeana, Administrative Assistant to George Washington University's Center for Student Engagement says that events are happening that connect schools, however almost all of them are limited to Greek events. She mentions that GW's Multicultural Greek Block Party features many students from other campuses.

 Aribeana added that Howard students do occasionally come to campus and when they do they usually stand out because GW's black community is very small:

"It is important that the black community here reach out to Howard" she says.

Both students and administrators seek solutions to fill the void that exist between universities. According to Aribeana the answer is advertising. Aribeana says that if students create a network where each university brought flyers for their events and posted them on other campuses it would increase attendance at events and promote student intermingling.

 Aisha Kern a senior Spanish major at George Washington University said that universities should put on a combined job fair or speed-dating event. Howard University student Palmer suggested that university basketball teams host charity games as a way to connect and raise money.

The ideas to solve the lack of unity between DC schools are out there, so let's reach out and connect.