Comments on: Segregated Housing in 2016

By: Melinda Troyka

Melinda Troyka — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:54:26 +0000

Like you, I was a bit uncertain of this policy when I started reading your blog post. The word “segregated” has quite a negative connotation. However, as long as they are not making any Blacks live somewhere they don’t want to live, and they specifically asked for this, then I agree with you that this is the best option. It wouldn’t be right for people to tell them they couldn’t live in a place that makes them feel more safe and comfortable, just because it sounds like a concept from the Jim Crow era. College living space can be very difficult for people of color, as we’ve learned. There are so may microaggressions that have been shown to occur. My only worry is that implicit bias will come into play somehow and people will find an excuse to put Blacks in the lesser living condition when given a choice. We learned of a more systemic racism in living spaces before, so this is a concern of mine in this situation. If there was a way to ensure that Blacks are treated fairly within this segregated living condition, then I would have no issue with it.

By: Cassie

Cassie — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 17:32:18 +0000

For me the key point is one you made, since the black student union demanded this inclusive housing as an option I agree with the decision. The more I learn about microaggressions the more I see how many environmental microaggressions there are at PWIs. Almost all spaces at PWIs are by default white spaces because the majority of students and faculty who inhabit them are white. This is probably a reason that the black student union wanted the segregated housing, so there could be at least one place on campus that is not a “white space”. I also like your point that this doesn’t meant that white students are not allowed in these spaces and housing is only one part of a university.

By: Victoria Marsala

Victoria Marsala — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 04:46:59 +0000

I think you raise some really great questions in your article! It definitely raises the concern of whether it’ll reduce interracial interactions, but I do agree completely that their voices should be heard and have top priority in any situation regarding race relations. If that is what they are explicitly asking for and that is what will make them more comfortable, by all means they should have it. Making students of color feel safe on campus is critical to their academic success, and as you point out there are still plenty of opportunities for them to have interracial interactions around campus.