Class of '08 Arrives at Howard

Darkened skies and sporadic showers as a result of Hurricane Charley welcomed the Class of 2008 as its members arrived at Howard University.

Photo credit: Jordan Colbert/The Hilltop Scattered remnants of Hurricane Charley could not deter students determined to complete their move-in at Howard University.

It is a class that had 9,000 applicants, of whom 45 to 46 percent were accepted, and 1,604 took the offer of admission, according to the university’s Office of the Provost.

Preliminary figures show the class to be 68.2 percent female and 31.8 percent male, with the average SAT score 1090 to 1100, the average ACT score 22 to 23 and the average high school grade-point average 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.

At the official Welcoming and Pinning Ceremony that Aug. 14 evening, University President H. Patrick Swygert told the students, "There is no such thing as an uninvolved, quiet Howard student. We don't reward quietness. Every person on this campus has an attitude. An attitude of leadership, truth and advocacy."

For many students, that event marked the beginning of their acclimation into Howard.

"This evening was incredible," said Mark Cox, a freshman sociology major. "I feel like I am a true part of the family. As brother Malcolm [X] would say, 'I have never felt such sincere hospitality.'"

"This program just adds to the kind of support everybody has provided, which has made me really comfortable leaving my son," parent Roderick Pinheiro said. "The [university] president is awesome and visionary. He came off as a really warm guy, and I got the feeling students could just drop by his office and see him."

A number of student organizations, staff and upperclassmen had volunteered to ensure that this year's move-in went as smoothly as possible. Residence Life sponsored cookouts outside each freshman dorm to welcome the parents and students.

Because Washington, D.C., is a prominent target for terrorist attacks, some parents found leaving their child in the city a source of stress, while others took it in stride.

Photo credit: Kristal Knight/The Hilltop In a new tradition, Howard freshmen place the responsibility of success upon each other with their official Class of 2008 pin.

"I'm not worried at all, because wherever you are, there are going to be terrorist threats," said Victor McLemore of Atlanta, whose daughter Alana will be living in the Quad.

"Howard just happens to be in the nation's capital, and that will always be a concern. Any major city is likely to be the target of terrorism. You can't live your life in fear. Otherwise, you won't go anywhere."

"Everyone has been really great," said Maureen Suggs of North Carolina, whose son, Javod, is a resident of Drew Hall. "A lot of kids have been here to help us out. I really don't have any complaints."

Those involved with the freshmen arrival during previous years agreed that the process was more organized and efficient than in years past.

Students seemed to pay less attention than their parents to the possible dangers of living in such a high-profile area.

“I'm looking forward to being in a different environment [from] the one I came from," said Erica Pinkett, a freshman from Boston majoring in psychology.

"I came from a school that was predominantly white and very secluded. Even though [Howard] is a black college, it's much more diverse socially and ethnically," she said.

Others said they were looking forward to the benefits of being considered an adult.

"The best thing about the move-in is just being away from my parents, having my own space and being on my own," said Richard Palmer, a freshman in the School of Business.

"Just growing up in general will be a learning experience."

Still, homesickness, classroom anxieties, financial woes and other issues often associated with freshman year can combine to make a student's first year at college seem overwhelming.

Salida Wilson, a freshman political science major, found moving into her dormitory nerve-wracking.

"I had to travel all the way from South Carolina," Wilson said. "Just getting packed and unpacked was very stressful."

Stress is unavoidable, but it is not impossible to beat, said Nickole Scott, director of training at the Howard University Counseling Center. Yet the fight against stress, she cautioned, should not involve drugs or alcohol, which Scott says intensifies the stress.

She recommends physical activities such as swimming, walking or breathing exercises.

"It is just about impossible to be stressed if the body is relaxed," Scott said.

Students should also find their own ways to relax by doing things they enjoy.

For instance, when, freshman biology major Jesusemen Edoro feels overwhelmed, she says, she just takes a nap.

"I do not watch TV or anything. Then, I wake up refreshed," she said.

Freshman biology major Tali Gabriel found relief during the move-in by organizing her dorm room.

"Setting up my room made me feel more comfortable," she said.

Making a reasonable schedule of tasks to be accomplished and sticking to it can allow students to feel in control and less weighed down by responsibilities.

Roland Byrd, assistant director of Howard’s Center for Academic Reinforcement, urges students to make detailed, realistic schedules that account for every hour of the day. He also says the schedules should be flexible.

"The key to time management is not to stretch [yourself] too thin," Byrd said.

New Student Blues. That's how Scott diagnoses students who have an especially hard time adjusting to college, feeling strong feelings of sadness or nervousness that not only do not go away but interfere with daily activities.

"If you feel overwhelmed, feel free to talk to people at the counseling center," she said.

Lauren Stephens, Ayesha Rascoe and Charreah Jackson are students at Howard University who write for The Hilltop.

Posted Aug. 23, 2004