“Virulent:” Black and BIPOC Students at Ivy League Institution Columbia University School of…
By: James The Truth
Tags: Racism, Columbia University, BlackLivesMatter, Discrimination

Columbia University School of Nursing as depicted on Google Images

“Virulent:” Black and BIPOC Students at Ivy League Institution Columbia University School of Nursing account suffering amid bitterly hostile and toxic racist environment in a post-slavery era

August 6, 2021

Black and BIPOC students say: “we are made to feel invisible, and voices silenced.”

For centuries Ivy League Institutions who were built by enslaved Africans stood and still stand as a resemblance of white supremacy. It wasn’t until the mid 1900’s (60 yrs after slavery was abolished in the United Sates) that Black and brown individuals were allowed to attend most Ivy League Institutions. Woven into the fabric of these tyrannical, exclusive, and predominantly white institutions who proudly vaunt racism — by way of performative cudgels strategically aim to inflict harm on their Black and BIPOC students. The foundation is built on racism despite their deceptive aesthetic’s (Columbia’s anti-racism stance), the cracks are painfully revealing; even in a post-slavery era.

The climate at Columbia University School of Nursing is toxic for Black and BIPOC students at large by reinforcing bias and racial hierarchy through instructional malpractice. Acts of racial discrimination have led to race-related stress manifesting in physiological stress responses, impacting the academic performances of Black and BIPOC students (including but not limited to acute cardiac events, decreased self-esteem, increased anxiety and depression).

Subsequently, Black students are forced to educate their white oppressors on racism, discrimination, spearhead anti-racist programs, devise strategies to increase Black retention rates, devise recourse for removal of or improvement of negligent faculty/administration ,and amend race-based/biased outdated curriculum all while balancing a very rigorous course load. It is not our burden to create an environment that is racism and harm free, that should be a given.

Please note the following dismissed grievances accounted by Black students:

“In my Advanced Pharmacology course we are taught race-based medicine which has no medical value. When asked not to teach these outdated, harmful and racist methods of medicine it was ignored and the same harmful questions were asked on our exams. There was one question in particular, that surmised regardless if treating a Black or white patient, our prescribed drugs would differ solely based on race. The professor went on to say that race is a risk factor (despite it being a social construct). Neither the social determinants of health nor health disparities were attributed to the reason we alternatively prescribe for Black populations.”

-MDE Student

“In our Advanced Health and Disease Promotion course we recently had a Teaching Assistant (TA) that specifically targeted Black students in the classroom by grading harshly compared to non-Black students. The TA advised students not to focus on the social determinants of health nor health disparities. The TA lamented how the class spent too much time focusing on the aforementioned. She stated more focus needed to be spent on simply addressing the rubric (note: the aforementioned is relevant to the required coursework aimed to reduce harm). Wondering why the TA had such biases, a review of her public social media uncovered a post that has been circulated throughout the Nursing School. The post was made available for everyone to see (as long as her name was known). [Please find the post attached below]. In the post the TA was smiling by the Eiffel tower commenting: “what a Nigga did in Paris had them hanging off the Eiffel tower.” Despite this postings of a 2014 date the TA had since failed to remove the post for 7 years, she had simply “forgotten” about it. The privileges awarded to be racist and simply forgot it, while Black and BIPOC individuals carry the pain for the rest of their lives in America is painful, but everyday dichotomy. To forgot for us is to risk absolute destruction. Columbia University has a strict social media policy that states, “As a Columbia Nursing student, you are a representative of the organization–even when using your personal social media accounts.”

Please note that violation of said policies “may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination… Configuration of social media account settings to automatically remove prior postings on a regular basis (e.g., after every 3 or 6 months) is recommended.” I know of a non-Black student who was put on academic probation for using a curse word online before she started the program, yet the aforementioned TA gets a “slap on the wrist.”

Not to mention, after the post was brought to light to both the institution and TA, the matter was quitely swept under the rug. The TA doubled down and refused to remove the post. Instead, the school let her continue to teach and further permitted her to present a lecture on “stigma and discrimination.”

Bottomline, it was an insult to all Black students. So many of us spoke up in class on how said lecture presentation caused us visceral responses. Despite our disdain we were forced to listen to an overtly racist individual lecture us on stigma and discrimination the blasphemous irony was surreal. It was not until the outcries of disgust increased and emails poured into the professors inbox that the TA took the post down and the school removed her from her TA position. Further note, the student is still allowed to TA (present date) for General Simulation Lab. Sadly, our Health Promotion professor Dr. Manasia defended the TA’s overtly racist acts and refused to apologize to the Black student population for inflicted harm. The professor stated that the incident was 7 years ago, and that she had learned from there. Unfortunately, doubling down and saying you were quoting a song lyric is not representative of any growth, rather a light illuminating the true nature of the individual.”

-MDE Student

“Our Maternal Health professor Dr. Mullen advised us to convince Black fathers post-delivery, that they are really the biological father because Black babies are always lighter at birth than they are during childhood years. Dr. Mullen also discouraged Black students after scoring poorly on one Pharmacology exam not to apply to the DNP program stating: “Perhaps Columbia University’s program is just too rigorous. Just focus on the NCLEX and you know, just being a floor nurse.” However, was observed encouraging non-Black students to rather utilize Columbia’s academic coaching services and muster through — that the DNP was doable for them. These complaints were brought to the attention of supporting faculty and administration. Both faculty andadministration dismissed complaints and stated “Well, you know how Dr. Mullen can be — she is just direct.”

-MDE Student

“Last week we met in class to discuss our grievances with Dean Wolfe. During that meeting she reinforced Columbia University’s anti-racist message stating: “We will not tolerate acts of racism and discrimination…we do care about Black students and will listen to your complaints — at a later date.” This statement seemed to fall on the institution’s own deaf ears as the racism we have been experiencing amongst Black students has been ongoing. My experience has been traumatizing over the past two years. I am depressed. I have increased anxiety. I have been told to “seek counseling,” as if I caused my own trauma. I’ve discovered that Columbia never takes accountability for the harm they inflict on their Black students. We can’t even get a group meeting with the head Dean despite outcries from students, family members, and my supportive friends. Dean Frazier refuses to meet with students on a one-on-one basis she instead circumvents them through the “chain of command.” Over the past two years I have witnessed Blacks placated, dismissed, discouraged and forced out. We unfortunately face discrimination every step of the way — from the first day of orientation, during our clinical rotations, in our classrooms…we face resistance from the financial aid department, registrar, advising, administration you name it! I am exhausted. Even the Black administration fail to protect us. They are more concerned about “saving face” and securing their own positions rather than supporting the interests of their Black students. It’s melancholy in nature. I am stuck in an abusive and toxic relationship with no way out seeing I am indebted to the loans weighing me down. This institution gets away with abusing it’s Black students and I’m just a statistic at this point. I don’t even have the energy to speak up. I am too exhausted and too afraid that I too like my Black colleagues who did voice their concerns, will be made an example out of. I am truly scared for the next cohort of Black students. I want to tell them “run! Apply to another program. Save yourself from this torturous institution.”

-MDE Student

“I never knew choosing Columbia would mean I would take such a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual toll. I am new to the school. However, I am deeply saddened. I sit in class and hear all of the students’ accounts, their experiences, their suffrage and I amfrightened. I really am thinking about transferring before it’s too late.”

-DNP Student

These are just a few of the countless grievances filed to negligent Columbia University faculty and administrator’s with no follow-up or resolution.

Please note the following dismissed grievances accounted by non-Black students:

“Honestly, I am appalled that my Black colleagues are experiencing such pain. I had no clue it was this bad. I am willing to do whatever I have to do to make this a more conducive environment for my Black colleagues.”

-DNP Student

“I’m speechless. I sat through Health Promotion this past week and witnessed the harm inflicted on my Black friends. It was traumatic for even me as a white student, so I really don’t know how they are holding up.”

-MDE Student

“I really had higher expectations for this institution. I really am just disappointed. I am not proud to be a student here at all, especially if this is how we are going to treat our Black and BIPOC students.”

-DNP Student

Despite Columbia University’s commitment to provide a “learning, living and working environment free from prohibited discrimination and harassment, fostering a nurturing and vibrant community founded upon the fundamental dignity and worth of all its members,” Black and BIPOC students at the School of Nursing have been subjugated, marginalized and subjected to both covert and overt acts of racial discrimination. Black and BIPOC students’ grievances, experiences and realties are continuously faced with resistance, opposition, dismissal, microaggressions, white fragility, inequality and injustice.

The purpose of this letter is to seek immediate help for Columbia University School of Nursing Black and BIPOC student populations who face unlawful discrimination, bullying, targeting and harassment. Black and BIPOC students at Columbia University School of Nursing are in imminent danger. We MDE and DNP students are collectively reaching out to outside sources for help. We can no longer allow our Black and BIPOC colleagues to suffer in silence. We ALL lift our voices in unison on behalf of our siloed Black and BIPOC colleagues to demand that their voices finally be heard.

Respectfully,

Columbia University School of Nursing Masters Direct Entry (MDE) and Doctor of Nursing Program (DNP) Students

Contact at Jamesthetruth96@gmail.com

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