When I transferred into the University as a junior, most of the incoming freshmen seemed to know exactly which dorm to apply to so that they would be surrounded by people exactly like themselves. I’m not sure where this knowledge came from, but I chose to live in Snyder Hall because of the no-drinking policy. I was shocked at the lack of African-American and Latina/o students living in the Six Pack. I came from a culturally diverse high school, and I was disappointed with the almost non-existent opportunities to make friends with people from other ethnicities in my dorm.

In the first few weeks of school, freshmen band together and create a group of friends from the people that live on their floor. How do we expect integration to happen if even the dorms are segregated?

It’s widely known in this University that FAR/PAR is predominately African-American and Asian, while the Six Pack is mostly Caucasion, IT is Jewish, etc. I think it’s time for a change. Nipping at the heels of the “Tacos and Tequila” uproar, it is necessary for the University to begin to make practical changes in order to decrease ignorance. Diversifying housing is a great place to start. It would allow everyday opportunities for relationships to occur between people that may not mix on their own. How about implementing random dorm assignments for freshmen? Or assigning students to the dorm closest to their major’s halls, with the “undecided” freshmen scattered throughout campus? Ignorance and segregation are a major problem on our campus, and housing is a simple, practical way to begin to change the issue.

Jennifer Brown

Senior in ACES