testimony

“Because of the continuing existence of the SIC, I am constantly stressed about applying to medical school, for I know that my wealthier peers have taken full advantage of their time here at Yale in volunteering, taking unpaid lab positions, and making studying for the MCAT their full time job.”

In order to cover my SIC, I have had to work between 17 and 19 hours every week for each of my three years attending Yale University both on and off campus. I had to quit club water polo my second semester of first-year in order to start working and Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“A larger Black staff at YMHC would be a step in transforming the campus from one that values the image of Black students to one that truly values their ideas, experiences, and lives.”

As a FroCo and Peer Liaison, I often felt conflicted recommending YMHC to my first years, knowing that they would likely encounter large wait times and potentially be placed with a professional who was dismissive or culturally uninformed. Although wait times can potentially be decreased through contact with the dean, Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“Being a Black womxn at Yale already comes with the burdens of existing as a minority at a predominantly white institution. On top of that, I must also grapple with the racial trauma that is constantly being exposed and exacerbated because of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Yale’s insistence on maintaining the Student Income Contribution directly harms it’s low-income students of color. Being a Black womxn at Yale already comes with the burdens of existing as a minority at a predominantly white institution. On top of that, I must also grapple with the racial trauma that is Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“While my peers worried about arriving late to an extracurricular activity or campus event, I worried about maximizing the amount of time I was working, often sacrificing my physical and mental health in the process.”

“In the 2017-2018 academic year, I worked three different jobs on Yale’s campus, ranging from box office work to calling alumni for donations to cover my student contribution. While my peers worried about arriving late to an extracurricular activity or campus event, I worried about maximizing the amount of time Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“When I got home from Yale in March, I immediately had my access to gender affirming therapy for my transition taken away, and my healthcare was back under the control of my parents who never supported my transition to begin with.”

When I got home from Yale in March, I immediately had my access to gender affirming therapy for my transition taken away, and my healthcare was back under the control of my parents who never supported my transition to begin with. When I got home, I lost the typical supportive Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“If it weren’t for the SIC, I would have spent more time during my Yale Career dedicated to my studies and passions, and less time anxiously poring over my finances and career competitiveness.”

The Student Income Contribution unfairly forces students on financial aid to forgo unpaid opportunities that they would love to take, but otherwise cannot afford to. If it weren’t for the SIC, I would have spent more time during my Yale Career dedicated to my studies and passions, and less time Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“In my first two years at Yale, I dealt with a lot of anxiety about not being as smart or as talented as everyone else. This feeling of inadequacy negatively impacted all areas of my life.”

In my first two years at Yale, I dealt with a lot of anxiety about not being as smart or as talented as everyone else. This feeling of inadequacy negatively impacted all areas of my life. I thought about using Yale Mental Health services, but I had heard so many Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago

“I had hopes then that Yale would help level the playing field for people like me. But that was a little more than three years ago. I’m now a rising senior, and I still feel lost at Yale. I still haven’t received any of the support that I was promised.”

People told me that I would find the support that I needed at Yale as a first-generation, low-income student. Advertisements from the University made it seem like I had little to worry about—that despite my lack of knowledge on how to succeed as an undergraduate, the school would help guide Read more…

By Students Unite Now, ago