Ivy’s Aren’t That Different
Senior Tatenda Mujeni says the intellect of Yale and Bennett students was about the same, but academic rigor is up to the individual students
Bennett College senior Tatenda Mujeni studied and conducted research at Yale University last semester through a domestic exchange program. She says there are minor differences between the Ivy League and Bennett like class sizes and the ratio of women in power. Mujeni says the opportunities and intellectual capabilities are the same, but success is based on students’ motivation.
“Yale was more academically challenging,” she admitted, “but intellectually Bennett and Yale are the same.”
During her semester in New Haven, Conn., the Biology major conducted research on the Intersections between Anti-Semitism and Racism. She based her research on the second wave of the feminist revolution from the 1960’s to 1970’s.
“It was fun because I was the first student in the Interdisciplinary Studies department to do research on the topic,” she says. “My professors and even the grad students were all extremely interested.”
She describes much larger classes and less one on one time with college professors; which is the main thing she missed about Bennett while there.
“I appreciated the smaller environment at Bennett,” she laughs, “It’s like a jungle out there.”
According to its website, Yale’s 2010 enrollment was around 11,700 students. Bennett College’s enrollment is slightly over 750.
“Because it is a large university there is a lot happening,” she recalls. “There are Ph.D students, graduate school students, and undergraduates all doing research. The center is filled with people constantly working and asking questions.”
Mujeni said at Yale there are daily seminars and students have the option of attending. Bennett’s equivalent, Academic and Cultural Enrichment Series, is held twice a week and is mandatory.
After graduation, Mujeni plans to get a master’s in Public Health and later continue to medical school. She desires to help women with medical research in the international community.
“I love seeing women in leadership. For example, Dr. Malveaux motivates me.”
She remembers seeing very few female leaders at Yale.
“I’m not intimidated by a male professor or researchers. I just think, ‘Another one, what’s new?’ But when I see female professors, female researchers, I am in awe. When I see any woman in leadership such as Dr. Terry, Dr. Malveaux, [and] Dr. Curtis I am inspired. That I see here at Bennett.”
Mujeni was given the opportunity to study for a semester at Yale after filling out scholarship applications in Dr. Terry’s office in her late junior year. They found the program and she applied.
While in high school in her native country of Zimbabwe, Mujeni admitted she had always dreamed of attending Yale University. Although that dream wasn’t fulfilled, she was just as grateful to attend Bennett College, another American school of her dreams. The research program allowed her to attend both of her dream schools.
Mujeni says achievements are not based on the institution. “Whether at an Ivy league or HBCU, it is based on the individual student’s motivation.”
Mujeni is multilingual, has remained on the Dean’s list throughout her matriculation at Bennett, and is nominated for an HBCU Award: Student of the Year.
When asked what it would mean to her to win, she simply said, “It would be weird.”
“At first I refused to believe it. I think there are other students here at Bennett who are doing amazing [things]. But like my experience at Yale, it would be an honor.”
By: Myeisha Essex
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