text: Honestly, I'm not surprised. I would like to say that our colleges are not racist...  but unfortunately, I think it is too likely that they are.  I regret to say that on my massively large campus, I have never heard any student speak up when teachers asked if there were any people of Islamic faith present, and there are very few people who appear to be of Arab descent.\n\nI absolutely believe that racism in America is not a "black and white" issue anymore.  African Americans have --luckily-- been able to campaign for improved access and acceptance, as have Asian-Americans. To some degree there also appears to be better access for people of Hispanic decent and (perhaps to a lesser degree) Native Americans.   However, I think that just as in WWII there was an upswell in prejudice against people of all Asian extraction, I think now there is an upswell in prejudice against people of all Arab descent.\n\nI also know that federal financial aid throws up major road blocks for all people of Arab descent whose names reflect their heritage.  I had a close friend who worked for Sallie Mae and reported that loans were consistently frozen "for review" for all people whose names were "substantially similar" to anything on the "terrorist watch list" -- including numerous common Arab first and last names, either of which could get someone frozen.\n\nI am sorry and ashamed of this...   *sigh*\n\nI'm not sure what good it will do to challenge these decisions, or if you feel prepared to do that, but know that there are people out here who were born into "White America" and still would support your right to equality in all ways.  \n\nI wish you the best of luck.