“When we came in, we were individuals, and we’re not leaving as nonindividuals, but we kind of melded together into ... one thought,” she said. “There’s one new person coming out, and it’s the eight of us.”

During the Fall 2015 semester, colleges and universities across the country were rocked by student protests addressing racial tensions on campuses. Ithaca College was also affected by these issues, and it is among many other institutions that are now trying to heal their communities while also facing losses in enrollment and retention.