Sydney Goitia-Doran is a junior jour-
nalism major with a minor in environ-
mental studies. She wrote for the Variety
section before becoming Managing
Editor last year. She was an intern at
The Seattle Medium this summer.
Bison,
We are so excited to welcome the freshmen class of 2029 to Howard University. With a population of over 2,700 students from 47 states and 35 countries, each of you bring unique experiences and perspectives that will shape the spirit of Howard this year. Congratulations on your acceptance and decision to join a strong legacy of excellence.
Many of you have likely already been inducted into Howard traditions, from spontaneous parties in The Valley to waiting in the financial aid office for hours on end. Once school starts, the minutes may tick by in your classes exceedingly slow, but I assure you the Howard experience goes by very fast. There will be many things vying for your attention: courses, organizations and extracurriculars, keeping in touch with your family and of course your social life.
Within this, it is easy to get into a routine, and even easier to fall into bad habits, like eating poorly, skipping class, or neglecting school work. I urge you to not become complacent. In other words, don’t be passive or unaware of what is going on around you.
Remain critical. Remain intentional. Remain informed.
It is easy to stay on campus and envelop yourself in the Howard experience. In fact, you should to a certain extent. However, complacency goes beyond school. We must not forget we study in Washington, D.C., our nation’s Capitol and the center of severe political changes, many of which affect us directly as students attending at an HBCU. During his time in office President Donald Trump has signed executive orders and attempted to revise and remove laws that affect our lives and rights as citizens. His massive influx of actions have made it hard to keep up with.
In the last eight months, I have heard the words “unprecedented” and “uncertainty” used to describe the current state of our country. I’ve watched people disengage from the news because it overwhelms them or makes them uncomfortable. This is understandable to a certain extent and it is important to prioritize mental health, but the worst thing you can do is become blissfully ignorant, because the result will be anything but blissful.
We are at Howard to receive an education, because empowering yourself to think and make informed decisions is our right as human beings. HBCUs were created to provide education that had been stolen from us. As Black students, getting an education is even more meaningful. We are actively fighting the systems intended to exclude us.
Still, getting through Howard’s doors is not enough. Make the absolute most of your experience here. Leave no question unasked, do things outside of your comfort zone and please stay up to date with current events. Read, listen, watch and go beyond social media. It is not enough to follow The New York Times and The Washington Post on Instagram.
Last week, Trump made the decision to take over The Metropolitan Police Department and deploy the National Guard in Washington D.C. As students in the capital, this directly affects our safety and day to day life. What is happening in the White House is not far removed from us. It is not just on TikTok and Instagram, it is at our front door, meaning it is critical we stay up to date on it.
Long term change can only happen in this country if we let it, and that will happen if we turn a blind eye to current events.
Current Bison and alumni alike will tell you the journey at Howard is not easy. The rigorous academics coupled with the unmatched social scene cultivate a perfect storm for a transition from youth into prepared adulthood. One thing remains true: we are resilient.
As we welcome the new class of freshmen and work on our own paths of matriculation, we will undoubtedly encounter new challenges on campus and off, as we do every year. In all the chaos, make time to be aware of the world around you. Listen to a quick news podcast while you walk to class, turn on a broadcast while you make dinner, and of course, pick up copies of The Hilltop around campus and read our weekly editions on thehilltoponline.com.
Resist complacency. We owe it to ourselves, to each other and to the world.
In Truth and Service,
Sydney Goitia-Doran
