I, the author, have made the choice to write this article anonymously for a number of reasons. However, the main reason is because of fear of retaliation.  I have seen and know many students that have come forward about the problems within The Associated Students of Colorado State University, and those students have been retaliated against. Anywhere from harassment through texting and social media, to lies being spread about them and damaging their reputation. I, as a student, should not be afraid to ask questions about these issues, yet I am.

As a third-year Business Major at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, life was moving very fast in the Spring of 2022. I was balancing a heavy class load and working 15-20 hours a week. The summer months were on the horizon, and I had not yet secured an internship when I came across an open position at CSU Spur. I decided to investigate further, but little did I know at the time that this was going to be such an engaging and rewarding experience.

In 2013, I moved to Fort Collins as a single parent and sole provider of three children, who at the time were in grades three, four and six. I had a dream of coming back to college at 37 and pulling my children and me out of poverty to change our family trajectory. I applied for every scholarship, loan and grant that I was able to.  Our family moved into international family housing, and I started back on my undergraduate degree in human development and family studies at Colorado State University. I loved every second of my education and felt that I would be able to graduate and pay off the loans. I was a peer advisor in the department of human development and family studies and was ready to apply to every single position in advising as an academic success coordinator possible.

The Black community in Fort Collins makes up 1.5% of the city's population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For a college town that loves to celebrate its diversity, community leaders such as Jamal...