at Howard University the historically black college that educated kamla Harris four decades ago students are buzzing with excitement about how her victory in the US presidential election could Elevate the institution and their own Ambitions I love seeing people who look like me doing such great things like comma said Serena Evans who faced racism at majority white schools in North Carolina before enrolling at Howard 2 years ago following in the footsteps of democratic Presidential nominee Harris who began her studies in 1982 at the university located in the nation's capital Evans feels a deep connection to the legacy of Howard for many these historically black colleges and universities HBCU serve as safe havens in a country still grappling with racism despite some doubting Howard's credibility compared to Ivy League Schools students like Evans who is studying Classics are undeterred people think we're underdeveloped compared to League schools like Harvard she said but with Harris aiming for the White House Howard's students are feeling on top of the world said 20-year-old jamali Smith an international relations student I feel like once kamla wins Howard will not only be an American thing it will be a global thing more people will know about Howard it will showcase more job opportunities internationally not just domestically among the red brick buildings and their tall columns white students are rare and it's difficult to find anyone who isn't proud to be studying at the vice president's Alma moer Harris 59 regularly returns to the Washington campus and was there earlier this month to prepare for her September debate against Donald Trump she loves Howard said Yousef kareim who came from Texas on the advice of a cousin who was disappointed by her experience at a majority white University for people to see that a black woman could be the president of the United States and she went to Howard University they can't take us as a joke Kareem said all we want is a fair shot you know a foot in the door added Kareem a second-year finance student access to education remains an ongoing battle for racial minority groups in the United States but Howard University continues to be a Beacon of Hope and opportunity