The Pregnant Scholar

Tag: Parent Profiles

  • PREGNANT SCHOLAR PROFILES: Kamaria Downs

    PREGNANT SCHOLAR PROFILES: Kamaria Downs

    kamariafull1
    Photo courtesy of Public Justice

    The Pregnant Scholar team is proud to feature this conversation with Kamaria Downs as part of our Pregnant Scholar Profiles.

    When Kamaria was a senior at Claflin University, the University evicted her from student housing because she was pregnant—a violation of Title IX’s prohibition on discrimination based on pregnancy.  Kamaria successfully challenged the university’s rules, with help from attorneys at Public Justice and Correia & Puth. As a result, the university revoked its discriminatory housing policy, created new housing and anti-discrimination policies to support pregnant and parenting students, agreed to hire new Title IX personnel, and expanded its Title IX training and outreach for students and staff.

    Here is the Pregnant Scholar’s conversation with Kamaria Downs on her struggle, her victory, and advice for others in a similar situation:

    When did you have your daughter? What did you expect it would be like to be pregnant in college?
    I was a senior and I was in my last semester when the entire ordeal happened. I had always intended to finish my degree. I never had a doubt in my mind about graduating.

    What was your university’s response to your pregnancy?
    The University found out [I was pregnant] when I went to student teach and they had a form that I had to fill out to disclose any and all of my medical information. Evidently that information wasn’t kept confidential. My dean called me into her office a few days after I submitted the form, and she was telling me that I’d have to move out because I was pregnant…Nobody else confronted me about it until a couple of months later when I was called into the housing coordinator’s office. She asked me if I was pregnant, and I told her ‘yes.’ She basically told me the same thing; ‘you know, you’re going to have to move out because you’re pregnant.’ At that point I was just telling her ‘give me a few days to find some living arrangements.’ Thankfully, I had been in a conversation with my professor/mentor, because she knew they were going to drop the ball on me. She opened up her home to me and let me know that if I needed to stay there with her I could.

    What led to your decision to challenge the policy against pregnant women in dorms?
    After graduation I actually took a year off to be with my daughter–and just sitting there enjoying her, watching her grow every day and change every day, it made me realize that in the beginning I was literally concealing my pregnancy from everyone just because I was afraid of what the university would do. It made me realize that I didn’t get to enjoy my pregnancy and it isn’t right.

    It’s not right for me to feel shamed for being pregnant just because I’m unmarried, or just because I’m still in college–that doesn’t matter. And so I wanted to prevent it from happening to other people. I wanted to prevent another woman from feeling as ashamed of her pregnancy as I did.
    Unfortunately it still happened to some other people after I graduated, but at this point I’m sure it’s not happening any more!

    Once you came forward, what was the response like?
    I logged into my university email…when the settlement was finally made, and I saw the email that they sent out to the entire university thanking me for coming forward with my story and helping to change the policy to make it equal for all people within the university. And [I saw] the response for an interview I’d done—a ton of my friends shared the link and everyone has been telling me how proud they are of me for standing up for what is right. Overall the response has been very good and I’m so excited about it. And I’m very appreciative that Claflin made the changes that they did.

    What advice would you give to other pregnant students?
    I would just say that it is still possible to graduate, don’t doubt yourself or what you can do! Think about your children; you’re doing this for them. And I would just say, to anybody, know your Title IX rights.

    What about professors, any advice on how they can support pregnant students?
    Be open to change. I know a lot of universities have a policy against pregnant and parenting students, but you have to be open to everyone and be able to accommodate them. It’s just wrong to treat people the way I was treated. Instead, provide avenues for them to finish their degree and be able to take their classes without any hassles or having them go through the runaround to get things done.

    kamaria22
    Photo courtesy of Public Justice

    Just be helpful to those in need and don’t look down upon them, I feel like that’s how it was at my university. A lot of leaders and administrators looked down on me, because I’m unmarried, I’m pregnant, I’m still in college. Don’t be condemning of people, don’t look down on them; that’s the worst thing possible.

    You’ve now graduated, what are you and your daughter up to?
    She is one year old. She is so smart and full of energy and everything I could’ve wished for. I am currently teaching 2nd grade in Greenville, South Carolina. And I’m in my first year. It has been my dream to be a teacher, and now I’m actually waking up and living that dream while at the same time having my family and just enjoying life.

    We love to share insight from a student parent who stayed on the path to achieving their educational goals. Click here to nominate a current or recent student parent for an interview.
  • Pregnant Scholar Profiles: Student Mom Dianna Blake

    Pregnant Scholar Profiles: Student Mom Dianna Blake

    With the start of a new school year, the Pregnant Scholar team is happy to launch this first in a series of Pregnant Scholar Profiles! Every month we’ll share insight from a student parent who stayed on the path to achieving their educational goals. Click here to nominate a current or recent student parent for our profiles.

    Our inaugural interview is of Dianna Blake, a mom of three and graduate student at Cal State Fullerton who spends much of her free time working to support other “non-traditional” students.
    Dianna Blake Family
    When did you have your children?  What did you expect it would be like to have kids in college? 
    With my first, I had just started community college at 21, but I dropped out. When I went back to school again, my eldest was 5 and my second child was just 6 months old. I didn’t know what to expect, for a long time I didn’t feel I had the right to be in college simply because I thought my goals and dreams had to be put on hold. I also expected to be the only mom.

    Why did you drop out? And what prompted you to come back when your second child was 6 months old?
    I decided to drop out because I was embarrassed and ashamed, and felt as though I would face judgement at every turn. Part of this insecurity was based on the reaction that some had to my pregnancy, the other part was me judging myself too harshly. I didn’t think college was the place for a pregnant woman — boy has that changed! Additionally, I chose to return to school because it was something I considered again after realizing I hated working in retail and wanted to improve myself.

    What did you find the most surprising in your first semester as a student mom?  What was the biggest challenge?
    The most surprising thing in my first full-time semester was that there were other moms attending, you just had to look. Also, I felt guilt for being away because I found myself enjoying class and I had it in my mind that it wasn’t OK for me to do something I enjoyed when I could be home with my kids. My biggest challenge was gaining confidence. My second biggest challenge was math!

    How did your university support your continued studies when you had children?  Did you know about your Title IX rights?
    On an individual level, I had professors who, once they knew my story, reached out to offer support, sometimes giving extended deadlines and other times simply checking in with me to see how I was. One professor requested everyone turn off their phones, except the students with children. I thought that was wonderful.

    However, my rights under Title IX were best met during my (unexpected) pregnancy during my final undergraduate semester. All of my professors worked with me so that I could finish my degree remotely (due to 20 weeks of vomiting, and 3 months of bed rest for Placenta Previa!) I found out about Title IX long before that, when researching the rights of students. However, the Adult Re-entry center director educated me further. These rights were helpful once again when I had a cesarean during the first week of my undergraduate semester. Each of my professors allowed me to work from home, and recorded lectures for me until I could return.

    Why did you start the Non-Traditional Students Network?
    I started the NTSN because, after talking to many Nontrads, I realized just how lonely the college journey can be for those who are parents, older, working full-time, veterans, etc. I wanted to create a forum-based community where students working in online programs or simply feeling isolated and alone, could come and chat with others just like themselves. It’s still in the birth stage, but I am hopeful it will catch fire and really become a resource for nontraditional students!

    What advice would you give to other student moms reading this?
    Don’t give up, even if you have to take a break. And if you take a break that doesn’t mean you have failed. Also, be willing to advocate for yourself by knowing your rights (like Title IX) as a student. Your presence in the college community adds value to the experience for you, other students, and staff, so don’t believe it when you start thinking you don’t belong.

    What advice would you give to professors or administrators looking to support student parents?
    You don’t have to go easy on us, but if you know the laws that protect us, inform us of them because we probably don’t know or we don’t want to impose upon you. Reach out to us. E-mail back. Respect our journey. Believe in us and we will begin to believe in ourselves. Oh, and ask us how our children are doing!

    Dianna Blake is a graduate student at Cal State Fullerton and will graduate in 2017.  Dianna recently launched the Non-Traditional Students Network, an initiative to connect student parents and other non-traditional students with one another.  She has also written a book about her journey, College Success for Moms: A Guide to Succeeding in College While Raising a Family due to be released later this year.