The goal is immediately on the fourth floor of Boyd Hall, where the UNLV established its first stage of learning and living in the black ...
The goal is immediately on the fourth floor of Boyd Hall, where the UNLV established its first stage of learning and living in the black and African American diaspora. The labels on the doors of Wakanda Forever adorn the corridor and the card games against humanity and Uno bring the community together despite their titles.
The norm of an apartment, the expectations that the residents put together and which they accept to live by, is to speak to each other as they cross the corridor. Encourage students to meet. Andre Cooper's assistant said: "It is refreshing because we spend too much time on our cell phones and forget simple greetings."
Howell Town is the newest thematic community on campus. The residences also offer apartments for all women, healthy lifestyles and LGBTQ + students, as well as apartments for members of Honors College and Harrah College of Hospitality. In its first semester, Howell Town attracted 30 residents, mostly upper class and transfer students.
V Dedeaux chose Howell Town because "I can have someone here with whom I can identify and who can understand me. Howell Town feels completely different from the other floors and hallways. "
Resident Faith Lawson added: "The apartment is very communicative. We see that we have the same difficulties, and even though I still don't know someone very well in my apartment, I always feel that I know them . "
Cooper said the Howell Town experience brought the students together and that "people really want to interact and participate". Having like-minded people on a floor where they can thrive and leave their comfort zone helps maximize what UNLV has to offer. "
The roots
Inspired by the launch of Stonewall Suites 2017 , an apartment for LGBTQ + residents, student Anna Opara and student Sharon Uche (17 BA Communication Studies) defended the new identity-based apartment. "We believe Howell Town would complement the UNLV's ethnic diversity in a way that would make it easier for students to graduate while verifying their identity," said Opara.
Opara and Uche have studied similar floors at other universities, including Stanford University, Virginia Polytechnic University and the University of California at Berkeley. Opara also asked for support from the Black Students Organization, the National Society of Black Engineers Chapter and the student dormitory association before making an official proposal to UNLV Housing & Residential Life to approve the floor.
The apartment's name came when they learned that John Howell was the first African American in Clark County to legally own land. Since the fall semester of 2018 opened, students have learned that Howell's Land is now part of the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas. This discovery led to a collaboration with the Springs Preserve team. The residents are planning a trip to the home of the archaeologist Nathan Harper in the spring semester.
Beyond the different, the daring, the diversity
Andrew Lignelli, Coordinator for Living in Residential Areas, said the apartment is part of the campus' effort to improve resources and support for minority and first generation students. The UNLV is considered the most diverse university in the country and is described by the federal government as an "institution serving the minorities".
"In recent years, students have expressed that the UNLV is very good at being an" institution with minorities "as opposed to a real" institution that serves minorities ", which means that it is about numbers "There are not enough resources for color students at the UNLV," said Lignelli.
He oversees the South Complex, home of Howell Town. "We believe that this type of community would meet the needs of black and African American students to create a community in which they can feel invested by validating a prominent and traditionally under-represented community."
Andre Cooper's assistant added: "Howell Town offers us something special and that's why our residents feel very connected as a group of like-minded people and relatives."
The resident Imani Satterwhite can attest to this. Although she is the youngest of three children, Satterwhite says that she grew up essentially alone. "I can be in an environment where I cannot grow up. Everyone I saw was a minority, but here I see how family can be."
The residents attended campus events together and received several guest speakers from the Office for Student Diversity and Social Justice of the UNLV, Greek Life and the Panhellenic National Council (Council of Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods with Letters, Greek international, African American)
Deputy director of the Orlando White living area notes that Howell Town was developed when the UNLV organized the retreat for men with color and black girls for the round table in March 2018 in September 2017. he said: "It was clear that there was a desire and need for dedicated spaces to explore identity in a meaningful way ... Howell Town offers strength by celebrating and exploring diversity rather than" These resources and the connection between to them, which are simply diverse or have differences, are essential elements for the success of the students. "
