By Hady Sabra | Staff Writer
The American University of Beirut has always strived to nurture a diverse student body through its international exchange student program and various scholarship opportunities. AUB believes that a diverse student body is necessary to initiate, cultivate and sustain an educational environment that promotes open dialogue between peers, garners ethical competence amongst its students and fosters mutual respect for all. We reached out to fellow black AUBites and asked about their experiences on campus and inside classrooms. Through testimonies, they shared the good, the bad, and the unforeseen.
One student, who hails from Somalia and is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at AUB, shares that, “it was hard to adapt to the change [in culture and environment], but as time went by, I started to feel a sense of belonging. I don’t know if that is due to the fact that I’ve been here for so long and I feel more comfortable walking around campus.” She adds that, “now, it’s much easier to start conversations and make friends.” This student stresses on the importance of having other black students in her classes, which helps make her feel less like a minority. She acknowledges AUB’s diverse student body and further appends that, “[…] on campus, you are not the only black woman, you are not the only black person attending classes, sometimes it used to be only me. Right now, when I see other black students sharing classes with me, I don’t feel different. [This is an improvement from when I first came to AUB] when the number of black students on campus was limited.” The student stresses on the importance of awarding the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship to African nationals who wish to pursue their graduate education at AUB, as that will further diversify AUB’s student body and make it more inclusive to all races.
Adam, a Ghanaian graduate student at the Faculty of Medicine, shares that, “I feel welcomed to AUB. Professors are so nice and inclusive inside the classroom. There are instances where the students innately switch to speaking Arabic, but the professor usually draws their attention to having a colleague who doesn’t speak Arabic, and that means a lot to me.”
A nutrition and dietetics student, who prefers to remain anonymous, does not share the same educational experience with Adam. She contrasts by saying that, “it’s hard being black at AUB. We stick out and often get secluded, sometimes even in class. Professors speak Arabic in class and we have to constantly ask for translations, which can be tiring.” She adds that, “often times we are asked such questions [regarding their experiences with discrimination and racism], but no change happens. I have been here for almost four years and everything is still the same as when I first started in freshman year.”
All shared testimonies shared several common aspects. The first and most common aspect was the discrimination black students have experienced at some point throughout their time at AUB, whether it be on campus or out in Beirut. This discriminatory behavior was reported to be as blunt as being excluded from group/ lab projects, or as subtle as sidelong glances and cursory stares. Another common aspect was the tendency to incline towards making friends from respective origin countries. Adam shares that, “I’ve made friends within my department and they are friendly and super helpful. Though, naturally, I tend to lean towards people from my country, I also try as much as possible to have indigenes as friends.” The Somali Mastercard Foundation Scholar mentions that it’s easiest to make friends with other scholarship recipients, but also adds that she has been able to establish close-knit friendships with Lebanese roommates and hopes to stay connected with them long after she completes her education at AUB.
AUB has to make sure that all its students are being heard and that all their problems are being tended to with the urgency and attentiveness required. Professors should respect the fact that some students don’t understand Arabic and be aware of that before alternating languages throughout their lecture. It is AUB’s duty and responsibility to make the necessary changes needed to cultivate a more global, diverse and inclusive environment that will ensure a better educational experience for all AUBites. The AUB experience is far more than just an education restricted to a classroom; it also includes extra-curricular activities, varsity teams, clubs and so much more. With all classes and activities resuming back on campus this past fall, it is necessary to ensure that black students are engaging in all the hobbies and activities they’d wish to pursue outside their majors, which will guarantee social engagement and better opportunities to develop ever-lasting relationships.