Stephanie Emenyonu ’16

Stephanie Emenyonu, Class of 2016, has made a space for herself in Dartmouth’s undergraduate engineering program. Within her class, she knows of only one other black female engineer. Though there are few who look like her and the journey has been difficult, Stephanie continues to persevere. As a senior, she plays a crucial role in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), working to build relationships among people of color who are in the engineering and STEM fields.

Stephanie identifies as Nigerian American. She feels as if she is a part of a hybrid generation, having grown up in the States while her parents were born and raised in Nigeria. Since arriving at Dartmouth, she believes she has become more in tune with her Black identity. While she has always felt strongly rooted in her African heritage, she now feels more connected to the diaspora and all Black people, regardless of what region they come from. Stephanie has found her support network in Black women at the College, specifically her sorority sisters in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

When asked if she feels safe on Dartmouth’s campus, Stephanie reflects on the campus atmosphere after a protest or demonstration. Throughout her four years at the College, she has witnessed and participated in multiple protests, addressing both Dartmouth-specific and nationwide issues.

I feel like it depends on the climate. After a protest, I don’t feel safe. I don’t know which type of person is feeling some type of way about whatever “X” happened, so I don’t feel safe. I can say that. In general though, things like leaving my laptop out… I know 99% of the time it won’t be taken. It definitely depends on the climate.

This feeling of unease is fresh in Stephanie’s mind when she sits down to interview. A few weeks before, students of color gathered in solidarity to respond to the vandalism of a #BlackLivesMatter display in the Collis Atrium on campus.* Dartmouth’s chapter of the NAACP created an exhibit of 74 black and gray t-shirts, each representing an individual who lost his or her life as a result of police brutality. Students also marched in solidarity with their peers at Yale University and the University of Missouri.

The worry the next day walking around campus… who feels what type of way about Black people. I am Black. I have to get to class. What’s going to happen?

As she thinks about the campus culture, Stephanie contemplates the way in which the social atmosphere has changed since the enactment of Moving Dartmouth Forward. She sees some of the new policies as ambiguous, uncertain of the nature of their impact on the larger Dartmouth community.

The climate has always been fraternities rule. Some sororities do have parties, but fraternities rule the scene just because we don’t have a lot out here and no one is driving to Boston to go clubbing. That’s ridiculous. I’d say it’s changed given the new policies enacted. It was really weird. I am not a heavy drinker. I rarely drink. But the hard alcohol ban—I could literally see the sadness in people and I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. It definitely dampened the mood. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy there are less Good Sams. People are relatively healthier, but the campus mood is just so much duller than before. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s weird. On top of that, Moving Dartmouth Forward enacting various things…I see the goodness coming out of it, but its also effecting mental state. I feel like its ambiguous.

Stephanie believes that her time at Dartmouth has made her a stronger individual and advocate. In a space in which one privileged perspective often dominates discussions, she has recognized how important it is for her to speak up.

But the thing about Dartmouth is, because it’s so stratified, it’s really forced me to come out of my comfort zone and stand up for what I believe in because I’m not just one to go with the flow. I will literally go crazy. I can go with the flow for only so long before I go nutzo. It’s really helped me learn about myself and be a stronger person to advocate for myself.

*For more information about the destruction of pro-black displays and structural racism at Dartmouth visit:  Lest the Old Traditions Fail: A Critical Exploration of the History and Reality of Structural Racism at Dartmouth College