MAKING FRIENDS AND DEALING WITH RACISM AT UT AUSTIN

This part of my freshmen advice series is all about making friends, finding orgs, navigating nightlife at UT, and how I handle segregation/racism on campus. Stay tuned for part 3 next week where I talk about how to save money!
Being Black at a PWI:
• Being Black at a PWI |...
Part 1: How to Get a 4.0 | Study Tips:
• HOW TO GET A 4.0 AT UT...
Part 3: My Secrets to Saving Money and Finessing Free Meals on Campus:
• HOW TO SAVE MONEY AT U...
Let's be friends!
Twitter: @lynette981
IG: @lynetteadki

[@somberoceans]

currently binge watching your videos so I can get a feel for UT before I make my final decision lol. all of these videos are SOOOO helpful. I can honestly see myself having so much fun at UT

[@LynetteAdkins]

I'm so glad they could help!

[@thatawesometutor605]

Hi there! As you are well aware, fall terms are about to start and although you may be learning in a different way, ThatAwesomeTutor is as ready as ever and ready to help answer your questions. Struggling on a question, stuck on an assignment, need essay editing? ThatAwesomeTutor has you covered! Felix from ThatAwesomeTutor Email: [e-mail]

[@marianrising5557]

Im really thinking about going to a smaller university or attending an HBCU. UT has been my dream school for a while but I hear that for POC, they gain more opportunities by attending HBCUs

[@LynetteAdkins]

It can be veryyy difficult being a poc at a PWI. I went to a white high school and was used to these struggles on a smaller scale, however I wish I looked more into HBCUs too. To some the opportunities and money at pwi's are worth it but HBCUs can provide the same if not more depending on the school

[@thatawesometutor605]

Hi there! As you are well aware, fall terms are about to start and although you may be learning in a different way, ThatAwesomeTutor is as ready as ever and ready to help answer your questions. Struggling on a question, stuck on an assignment, need essay editing? ThatAwesomeTutor has you covered! Felix from ThatAwesomeTutor Email: [e-mail]

[@alexbaster159]

Yes!! I’ve been waiting for this video. This is so helpful to me (Im a black ut22 student). I’m definitely planning on joining a vegan org and bsa so we might even run into each other! I would love a video on the racism bc I’ve heard very conflicting feelings about it. Also, what is you opinion on spirit groups?

[@LynetteAdkins]

Megan Turner girl yes I’m sure we will, I’m thinking of joining BSA next semester. You should definitely join FLI too! I was interested in spirit orgs my freshmen year, but realized it wasn’t for me. Personally I think they are like mini sororities, they’re more diverse but still pretty white for my taste haha

[@alexbaster159]

Also ready for the next video.. “I love scamming..” big mood lmao

[@nicollelane5535]

Hey! Do you know anything about UTs music school or anyone who majors in Vocal performance ?

[@nkaliphodube2151]

Thanks for the info! I’m actually thinking of transferring, but do you know anyone who’s majoring in nutrition? I’m thinking of switching my major to that, and I was just wondering what it’s like.

[@LynetteAdkins]

Nkalipho Dube Yes one of my closest friends is a nutrition major!! It’s in the school of natural sciences so it’s lots of labs and hard work from what I’ve seen. If you DM on one of my socials I could connect you with her if you want more info :)

[@nkaliphodube2151]

Sounds great! I’m actually finishing up my application right now! Tell her to dm me on Twitter @nkaliphodube!

[@racheldunkley2946]

How do you find the group mes?

[@rebekkahxoxo]

Do you recommend staying on campus freshman year ?

[@LynetteAdkins]

Yes!

[@user-wj6so3hx8z]

Yeeeah Austin it's a fun city. My best is hiking 😍😍😍

[@LynetteAdkins]

Same!!

[@grayscar05]

Texas Southern and Prairie View are the top HBCUs in Texas and I highly recommend it for those wise individuals who don't want to subject themselves to the micro-aggressions and racial discrimination at UT. And please keep in mind that being liberal and racist are not mutually exclusive. I attended Texas Southern for undergrad and UT Arlington for grad school and I would've not had it any other way. Texas Southern provided an uniquely nurturing environment that made me secure in my black identity and expanded my perception of what it means to be black (we had hippy black kids from Cali, we had preppy affluent black kids from various Texas suburbs, we had blacks that loved K-Pop, we had Nigerian blacks, etc). And UT Arlington is predominately white but way less segregated and way more diverse than UT Austin. Austin also doesn't have a reputation for being a lively place for black nightlife and culture so you will be disappointed if that's something you're looking for. Houston (where TSU and PV are located) is a way more inviting and interesting place for lively black culture and nightlife. Most of my black UT friends would normally drive to Houston or Dallas on the weekends to have "real fun" .... they never really cared for Austin, especially after Freshman year. My black friends are generally speaking proud Longhorns mainly b/c of the school's academic reputation but many of them have shared they wish they attended a HBCU for undergrad at least and they don't seem to love their school as much as the white Longhorns I know or HBCU graduates love their institutions. When I watch a UT football or basketball game on TV, I rarely see black alumni or students in the audience and there are over 30,000 black UT alums and over 1,500 black students.

[@marianrising5557]

yes! I have 6 full ride opportunities, 4 which are from HBCUs. I agree. Being a POC, HBCUs can be a better fit for most.

[@grayscar05]

I'm sure Howard was in that list. It seems like most of my black UT friends got accepted to Howard or seriously thought about it.

[@grayscar05]

Black kids definitely have to sacrifice more for the UT prestige. And I feel it's important for blacks to be there, I don't feel like all blacks should be at HBCUs so we clear. Besides, there are a large number of degree plans that UT offer that PVAMU and TSU does not so it makes sense for blacks to be there.

[@LynetteAdkins]

Yes! Wish I could speak more on HBCUs or get someone who attends one in a video bc there's huge pros and cons to both

[@grayscar05]

there are several UT black professors and graduate students that are graduates of HBCUs. You may want to start there.

[@pelumi.2359]

Does ut have soccer club

[@athorinan1241]

Hi，I wanna know how is the food in UT Austin？

[@LynetteAdkins]

Athori Nan it’s amazingggg there’s a lot of choices

[@athorinan1241]

I love exsercising so I want a lot of healthy food, is that available?

[@FarrahGoez]

You mentioned racist professors but didn’t really expand on it; please elaborate

[@Eye2Eye24]

Make friends

[@DBshow100]

Omg make a video on the racism!!!

[@LynetteAdkins]

Darnell Forbes on it👀

[@Stillcantthinkofaname]

@@LynetteAdkins where is it?

[@pizzabella_2356]

just saying, if every POC says "i don't want to go because i'm going to be the only POC", then there will be no POC people at all because everyone is afraid of being "the first"... as a white person, i know that my opinion doesn't necessarily matter on the topic of POC but i just carry the "don't be afraid to be the first" mentality in a lot of aspects of my life and i think it can extend to this as well and i want anyone of any race to come to UT because i'm gonna be there and i wanna meet you :)

[@user-kq4iu9op1n]

People like you encourage me to go forward with my dreams no matter how impossible it seems! :)🤎

[@gn2630]

Im looking into my universities for like any discrimination. Im gay and non binary and im trying to find a uni thats not that saturated with bigots

[@giorgiogrimes9750]

Just followed you on Instagram ! @giorgiogrimes !

[@GSM92]

Its central Texas, not southern Texas

[@pavmx703]

Real shit though, the black folks at UT are clicky as fuck. If they don’t know you, they won’t fuck with you period.You can walk into the X lounge and if you weren’t at all of the events and stuff before classes even started, these black orientations and whatnot, you will not know anybody and it will seem like everybody has known each other for years. Shit spreads super fast in the black UT community as well. You can’t do shit without the whole click finding out.

[@malliamarshae]

💜💙💜 4:31

[@Dim.g0v]

I think this video peddles too many half-truths and falsehoods, and it in end it drags down the credibility of everything else that's said. Unfortunate in an otherwise great video about getting out there and making friends. UT is a plurality white school but that goes for most universities, especially those that are considered diverse. Also, nowhere near most students at UT are involved in Greek life. The school is only 44% white and has 14% Greek life participation. The 4% of the school that is black (which is over 2k students) is due to black students in the state by and large for various reasons not being able to meet the academic requirements. Not really UT's fault but if a black applicant wants to meet high performing black students like themselves there's no better place than UT. The hbcu's here accept anybody and aren't good schools in any way shape or form. Beyond that Asians and Hispanics both make up 20%+ of the student body so I don't really see how the school is lacking diversity. The schools in Texas that are considered diverse or that most believe represent monitores more accurately are usually quite the opposite anyways. For example TCU is 80% black and UTSA is 53% Hispanic. When we look at the state 37% of it is Hispanic and 12% is black. UT isn't where you find the lack of diversity, I mean the place doesn't even have majorities. I do see where the segregation points come from though, but that's not due to the school doing anything. It's people's natural tendency to gravitate towards what's familiar or whatever they identity with. Hence the organizations and groupme's. Regardless of all that though going to such a diverse school will lead to inevitably crossing paths, working with, and becoming friends with all manner of people. And to a larger degree than pretty much any other school in the state. The points on conservatism at UT don't hold water either. The school is mostly liberal with a healthy dose of conservative voices, but facing conservative ideas and voices isn't a negative or reasons someone should reconsider going. It shows the diversity of thought on campus. Other school's for instance like A&M of PVA&M are political echo chambers (although on opposite sides of the political spectrum). The diversity of thought should be seen as a positive so young people can be introduced to new ideas, and have whichever ones they already have challenged in a meaningful capacity. Everyone can find their place at UT whilst also being confronted with new ways of thinking. That's how I see it at least and I think you would agree as well. Ik the race stuff was like just one part of the video but I felt that your potrayal of the situation wasn't entirely accurate. If we want more potential future black longhorns I don't think this kind of video is conducive towards that. I can see from the comments that young black people who had UT as their top choice are now considering poor educational institutions like TSU and PVA&M which would stunt their academic growth and career opportunities dramatically. Well that was my soap box, peace ✌️.

[@LynetteAdkins]

Dimitri Wega I never denied that UT should be a top choice for black students. But to try to look over the experiences of isolation, microagressions, and blatant racism that black students at this university face would be against the purpose of this channel. I made these videos to give someone my overall perspective of the university, including the negative aspects. Whether or not you like the fact that many black people simply do not feel like this university cares about them, we are still here experiencing it. Also, many black students’ inability to meet academic standards in high school stems from a system of institutional racism that has limited the opportunities and resources for students to succeed in a lot of black communities. However we are continuing to thrive and bring more color and excellence to this university every year!😘

[@SW-nx4jz]

And btw you statements are inaccurate. HBCU produce the most Black doctors and medical professionals in America. You should read on the statistics about HBCUS instead of speaking about things your clearly ignorant about. 🤷‍♀️

[@showmeyourdaleel6568]

Also, TCU is 70 percent white.

[@natsmith7066]

@@LynetteAdkins well said.

[@DuttyBoukmansToe]

I'll buy you a car. Let's hang out.

[@MidnightRambler]

racism..yawn..