This American Life 867: College Disorientation
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Sep 14, 2025 Nevaeh Parker, president of the Black Student Union at the University of Utah, discusses her fight to preserve the BSU amid anti-DEI legislation. She shares the challenges of creating community for Black students in a predominantly white environment. Ike Sreesh Kandaraja highlights the impact of new definitions of antisemitism on Columbia University, revealing how these changes affect academic freedom and classroom dynamics. Together, they shed light on current tensions in higher education and the resilience of student initiatives.
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International Students Navigating Arrival Chaos
- International students at ASU arrive alone and cling to orientation games to make friends.
- Visa rejections and stricter screenings left many plans shattered and seats empty in dorms and classes.
Anti-DEI Laws Recast Inclusion As Exclusion
- Anti-DEI laws reframe campus support as discriminatory by insisting programs be "open to all."
- That shift removes targeted resources that historically made marginalized students feel welcome.
Leader Becomes Lone Operator To Save BSU
- Nevaeh chose to make the Black Student Union independent to survive the new rules.
- She lost university funding, advising, and took on fundraising and operations personally.