She sat in her Communications class at Howard University as the only white student in the classroom her sophomore year. Her Professor kept pointing her out in discussions on race.
"He would make blanket statements like ‘White people prefer…'. Then he would look towards me and say right?" explained 21-year-old Kelly Lloyd, a junior majoring in nursing. "It was extremely irritating."
Lloyd and her boyfriend Kyle Henne, 20, who is also a white student majoring in economics, came to Howard in the fall of 2008 on a scholarship. Henne explained that he wanted to go to school in the nations Capitol. He visited all the local schools, but felt Howard had the most interesting student body.
"I had no interest in taking the normal college route," he said. "I wanted and still want as many new experiences as I could find."
Lloyd wasn't nervous about attending an HBCU as she explained she came from a "mixed family." Henne on the other hand didn't know what to expect. He had graduated from James River High school in Richmond, a predominately white high school.
Like Lloyd, Henne also recalls awkward moments of being called out in class as the only white person. He explained that he is often forced to represent his entire race while speaking off the cuff.
As Henne looks back at these situations he describes them as "indispensible" because they taught him how to speak for himself and his own life experiences.
"I don't claim to know the answer to, ‘What do white people think of W. E. B. Du Bois?' said Henne. "But thanks to Howard University, I know my own opinion quite well."
Henne hasn't felt discriminated or unwelcomed. He addressed the fact that there are always clashes between students, especially those of different backgrounds and beliefs, but having an open mind minimizes the issue. Any differences he has had with fellow students were easily handled.
I was able to resolve situations without feeling the need to turn towards discriminatory actions. Overall, Henne and Lloyd both have had a wonderful experience at Howard University. Lloyd explained that if given the choice to choose schools again, she would choose Howard.
Henne explained that in nearly every way he is a normal college student, an experience he said no one dislikes. He goes out on the weekends, studies quite a bit, and learns about his fellow man.
On top of that, he has benefited from the academic strength and diversity of experience that Howard University's students and faculty offer. He realizes that not everyone will make the same choice he has but feels more students should consider it.
"The experiences offered by historically black colleges and universities and Howard University specifically, are extraordinary and unique," said Henne.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!