“Are They Watching Us?”: UDC Students Question the Divide Between Their Campus and HBCU Culture
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is no stranger to the challenges that come with being an HBCU in a nontraditional setting. With a predominantly commuter-based student body, a lack of dorms, and a campus that doesn’t fit the typical “college experience,” many students feel disconnected from the dynamic, freedom-filled culture that defines traditional HBCUs.
“We’re already at a disadvantage,” says a student leader, who wishes to remain anonymous. “We don’t have a traditional campus. Most of us commute. We work and then come here. But instead of giving us space to enjoy our college years like everybody else, they treat us like we’re still in high school.”
The issue, they say, isn’t just about the lack of a residential campus, but the sense of over-policing at student events, where faculty and staff are often present to monitor behavior and ensure safety.
“You’ll be at an event, trying to have fun or even dance a little, and there’s faculty just… standing around, watching,” the student explains. “It’s hard to feel free when someone’s always hovering. It makes people not want to come out.”
This sentiment has been echoed by other students, many of whom are frustrated by what they see as a disconnect between the university’s desire to create an inclusive, vibrant student life and the reality of a heavily monitored environment. While safety is a concern for any institution, students argue that the level of supervision they experience feels more like surveillance than support.
At more traditional HBCUs, like Howard University just a few miles away, students often enjoy events like homecoming celebrations, step shows, and campus-wide parties that run deep into the night, all fueled by a culture of freedom and Black pride. For UDC students, even well-intentioned, educational events seem to have a constant layer of oversight.
“They must not trust us to be adults,” another student leader involved in organizing events on campus says. “I’m not saying don’t come to events, but being in the parties is a bit much.”
For many students, the level of supervision feels stifling, especially when they compare their experience to that of peers at other institutions. The sense of autonomy and self-expression, which are key aspects of the HBCU experience often feels absent.
“Part of the HBCU experience is freedom, freedom to be loud,” says Jhanine Walker, a senior studying Digital Media. “And I just don’t feel like we have that here but I love our school.”
UDC’s administration insists that the monitoring is a necessity for safety. Faculty chaperones at events are seen as a precautionary measure, ensuring that student gatherings remain safe and respectful. Director of Student Life and Services Percy Henry III says “ all campus events are chaperoned at other schools” and others have echoed this sentiment.
Despite these challenges, there is hope among students that change is possible. Leaders within the Student Government Association (SGA) and various student clubs are pushing for more student-led events, fewer restrictions, and a shift in how the administration views campus culture.
“We’re not asking for them to be careless,” says the anonymous student leader. “We’re asking for some slack. Ease up”
As UDC students continue to navigate their university experience, the hope is that the administration will listen to their concerns and create a space where students feel free to express themselves authentically, without the constant watchful eye
