Know before you go: how to tell if your prospective college is hostile to people of color

Recently there was an article in the Washington Post's Express about Washington and Lee University's decision to remove the Confederate flag. The move was in response to protests by African-American students that the university is unwelcoming to minorities. I'm torn between applauding the student's for their victory and scolding them for being naïve. Surely, these young activists who are intelligent enough to attend university weren't surprised by the environment they found at this institution. These students probably had other places that could have gone to university but they chose a place that had several, pardon the expression, red flags that it was not welcoming to people of color. If you're a young person looking to attend university, here are four signs your school might be a hostile environment for African-Americans and other people of color.

1. The school is named for a historical figure whose claim to fame is his oppression of black people.
2. That historical figure is buried on campus.
3. The confederate is flying there.
4. The university owned and sold slaves, but has never expressed regret for that history.