Lat34North
Lat34North
“We Should All Eat”: A Call for Equal Access to Opportunity Across All Academic Divisions
“We Should All Eat”: A Call for Equal Access to Opportunity Across All Academic Divisions
This fall, Spelman introduced the major “literature, media, and writing”, in lieu of what many know to be English. This remodeling of the English department is intended to push forth conversations of critical race theory, gender and sexuality studies, post- and anti-colonial studies and critical disability studies, in a way that is more innovative than its antecedent.
Although seemingly minor, this new approach to English has generated significant curiosity among the student body raising important questions about the condition of the humanities and social sciences at Spelman College.
Ranked the number one HBCU for the 19th consecutive year, Spelman’s esteemed position amplifies this curiosity. Students are prompted to reflect on what it means to hold such prestige and whether their experiences are representative of that ranking across all academic disciplines.
“Being recognized as the nation’s top HBCU is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, leadership development and the empowerment of our students,” Spelman interim president Roz Brewer, Class of 1984 said.
However, not all students feel empowered or acknowledged. Several in the humanities and social sciences express feelings of being overlooked, especially when compared to their peers in STEM fields. Finley Warren, a political science major with a minor in economics, embodies this sentiment.
“I like speaking about how relevant these fields are, because I think the social sciences and humanities sometimes get dismissed as being less important or less relevant than STEM fields,” Warren said.
She goes on to discuss the disparity in leadership and professional opportunities afforded to STEM and economics students compared to those studying the humanities and social sciences.
“The most that our department gets is a law school fair or panels with a law school, which is great, but there's life after that. And there's also life in between that,” Warren said.
These disparities can be addressed if Spelman reassesses its partnerships and opportunities, ensuring they benefit all students, not just those in STEM.
“That bank needs the English major, the Spanish major, the philosophy major, just as much as they need someone in Econ,” Hite said.
Spelman has built a rich network of partnerships that accommodate every major represented on campus. It falls upon our institution to reevaluate the targeted recipients of these opportunities, providing all students with equal access.
In a global economy that values creativity, communication and critical thinking, the humanities are not antiquated luxuries but essential tools.
For Spelman women in particular, the humanities offer a framework for identity, advocacy and leadership that STEM disciplines alone cannot provide. Graduates from Spelman have used their voices to challenge oppression across various fields. To weaken the humanities is to weaken the platform that amplifies those voices.
The future of academics at Spelman depends not solely on spotlighting STEM or the humanities but rather embracing the strengths of both. As an HBCU that cultivates women, Spelman occupies a unique position in higher education, preparing women not only to enter competitive fields but to transform them. This requires more than technical skills, but necessitates vision, creativity and moral clarity. These are the gifts of the humanities.
By investing in the humanities as a partner rather than a competitor to STEM, Spelman can ensure its graduates are not only employable but revolutionary.
“There are opportunities for everyone here. So we should all eat," Hite said, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in educational opportunities.
This fall, Spelman introduced the major “literature, media, and writing”, in lieu of what many know to be English. This remodeling of the English department is intended to push forth conversations of critical race theory, gender and sexuality studies, post- and anti-colonial studies and critical disability studies, in a way that is more innovative than its antecedent.
Although seemingly minor, this new approach to English has generated significant curiosity among the student body raising important questions about the condition of the humanities and social sciences at Spelman College.
Ranked the number one HBCU for the 19th consecutive year, Spelman’s esteemed position amplifies this curiosity. Students are prompted to reflect on what it means to hold such prestige and whether their experiences are representative of that ranking across all academic disciplines.
“Being recognized as the nation’s top HBCU is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, leadership development and the empowerment of our students,” Spelman interim president Roz Brewer, Class of 1984 said.
However, not all students feel empowered or acknowledged. Several in the humanities and social sciences express feelings of being overlooked, especially when compared to their peers in STEM fields. Finley Warren, a political science major with a minor in economics, embodies this sentiment.
“I like speaking about how relevant these fields are, because I think the social sciences and humanities sometimes get dismissed as being less important or less relevant than STEM fields,” Warren said.
She goes on to discuss the disparity in leadership and professional opportunities afforded to STEM and economics students compared to those studying the humanities and social sciences.
“The most that our department gets is a law school fair or panels with a law school, which is great, but there's life after that. And there's also life in between that,” Warren said.
These disparities can be addressed if Spelman reassesses its partnerships and opportunities, ensuring they benefit all students, not just those in STEM.
“That bank needs the English major, the Spanish major, the philosophy major, just as much as they need someone in Econ,” Hite said.
Spelman has built a rich network of partnerships that accommodate every major represented on campus. It falls upon our institution to reevaluate the targeted recipients of these opportunities, providing all students with equal access.
In a global economy that values creativity, communication and critical thinking, the humanities are not antiquated luxuries but essential tools.
For Spelman women in particular, the humanities offer a framework for identity, advocacy and leadership that STEM disciplines alone cannot provide. Graduates from Spelman have used their voices to challenge oppression across various fields. To weaken the humanities is to weaken the platform that amplifies those voices.
The future of academics at Spelman depends not solely on spotlighting STEM or the humanities but rather embracing the strengths of both. As an HBCU that cultivates women, Spelman occupies a unique position in higher education, preparing women not only to enter competitive fields but to transform them. This requires more than technical skills, but necessitates vision, creativity and moral clarity. These are the gifts of the humanities.
By investing in the humanities as a partner rather than a competitor to STEM, Spelman can ensure its graduates are not only employable but revolutionary.
“There are opportunities for everyone here. So we should all eat," Hite said, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in educational opportunities.