The Center for “Race,” Culture and Social Justice at Hofstra University

The HOLA club (Hofstra’s Organization of Latin Americans) at Hofstra University has had a major impact on many students for years. This organization has been the one to help me the most throughout my young college career. As a young latina woman who studies sports journalism, which is a male dominated area, I feel that the HOLA club has become a safe space for myself where I can feel accepted. In many of my extra curricular activities and classes that revolve around sports journalism, I am usually one of the few girls out of all white male students. Being in a room and being the only woman or person of color can sometimes feel a bit intimidating, however, organizations such as the HOLA club can make those experiences better when having someone to talk to and relate to. In many cases, there are situations where students feel they don't fit in. It is important for students to have a place on campus where there is a sense of belonging for them. The HOLA club embraces all types of Lati...

“Why not?” The question I always ended up asking myself every time I left my high school guidance counselor’s office. Why was it that Hofstra was a school that I had to forget about or move to the side, or categorize as a “reach” school? The effort I put into doing well in all of my courses, the time that I spent in clubs and at practice and games, the relationships I built with teachers, and faculty to have the best opportunities for solid recommendation letters were all not good enough for this school all of a sudden. Well, that’s what I thought. Silly of me not to realize that it was not because of my transcript or personality or anything that had to do with me personally. I just could not afford it, along with most of my friends in high school. I was a minority student living in a neighborhood where although I had everything I could ever wish for and more, it is not typical to afford a school as expensive as Hofstra. The students I surrounded myself with were all high-caliber stude...