Aubrey Barber: ‘This isn’t normal.’
Aubrey Barber is a senior commuter and transfer student at the University of Minnesota studying animal science.
“I’m pretty bubbly, laid back, pretty chill. That hasn’t changed. I’m a college student who works part time to help pay for everyday things to get by with life. I’m from northern Wisconsin. I did two years at a community college there. I got my associates and then wanted to continue to get my bachelor’s, and the U of M had animal science, which is a good prerequisite major to go to vet school. My aunt also lives here so I live with her. She lives in Anoka.
“I was at home — I was in Wisconsin — when everything blew. I was nervous coming back to the cities to see what was going on, or to understand what’s been going on. So that was worrying but after the first couple weeks, I’ve sort of gotten used to it. I’ve chilled out. But I don’t like that everything’s going on. I do know that it’s affected a lot of my classmates who have been utilizing the Zoom lectures that the U has offered. But people immediately surrounding me, I don’t see it affecting them as much. Like family and coworkers and stuff, people I see every day.
“From what I know, I think ICE has changed the Twin Cities community in the school aspects especially, like with the Zooms and how the university has given that opportunity. But I know they’re also stopping that soon, so that’s not amazing for people who still feel threatened by ICE. But that’s mainly it for me. Besides that, I personally haven’t felt much of a change. I feel the same when I go to school. It hasn’t affected what I do. I just go to school in the cities and then I go home outside of the cities. It obviously is an issue but it’s something that I’m not affected by as much living outside of the cities. It’s not as in your face. I feel far away from it, like where the most happens.
“I transferred to the U as a junior, so this is still an adjustment. I haven’t been here for a super long time like most other seniors. All the changes people are seeing and everything with ICE, I can’t really also see because of where I’m at and being new to the city. But with everything I’ve heard and the news, I know that this isn’t normal.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview by Eleanor Steffen
