Globalist

Actually, a lot of other VA schools consider UVa their rival and like to bash us, but it's funny how we hardly think about them at all. UVa doesn't have a true rival in the Stanford vs. Berkeley / Duke vs. UNC / Harvard vs. Yale sort of way.

db123

that's mostly what it is. The schools in my area tend to have a consistently high number of students that go to UVa or Tech. We just poke fun at each other and the "rivalry" (as shoebox said) is mostly for fun. If you look back on the tragic shooting at VTech, the most affected university outside of Tech was UVa because many of the students going to UVa have a sizable friend base at Tech. UVa held it's own candlelight vigil and painted the Beta Bridge.
(to see: Notes from Peabody II: The UVA Application Process: Hoos for Hokies message finally comes down )
The two schools are intertwined because both student bodies know quite a few students attending the other university.

The VT/UVa rivalry can be summed up as this. When you write something on AIM and mean it as a joke, you add a smilie at the end. When you talk about the UVa/VT rivalry, you add a :P, , or at the end of "YOU'RE GOING DOWN TURKEY."

Then you're going to UVa?!

melli

vicente you seem a bit overly obsessed about race relations and perceptions at UVA. Speaking as an Asian American female in plenty of ethnic organizations and some traditionally all white organizations, you really don't need to worry about it. No one cares, seriously. It's college. Sure you'll have cases of ignorance, but that'll happen at any university. As long as you don't walk around and introduce yourself as "Hey I'm Bill and Asian, have a problem with it?", no one will bat a single eyelid.

vicente

Well melli to be honest with you, it's mainly because of bad rumors I've heard about violent attacks from Blacks and Whites and the 2005 incident with the Black student president that I'm concerned. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but here in Canada where everything's so tranquil (but unfortunately also politically correct), the idea of interracial violence seems incredibly frightening so I am taking it really seriously. I mean, I know that obviously you're not going to see a racial attack every day or even every month but I want to know that I'm not being hated solely for having a certain skin color. I've always been concerned about gender and racial issues in both Canada and America and I want to make sure that UVa being a southern university isn't worse of a place to live as an Asian American than Toronto.

KandKsmom

Hi gurlinthesticks,

I remember reading a neat article in the USA Today paper last fall about the rivalry....I looked it up and thought I would share it with you. I also showed it to my soon to be Hokie s, who like you was totally in the dark about the VT vs. UVA rivalry....(up until now he hasn't been a huge sports fan like his mom and dad!)

Good luck at UVA !

Virginia Tech, Virginia renew rivalry with much on the line - USATODAY.com

HartinGA

Where does this racism thing keep coming from? It is just ridiculous. Black Enterprise magazine, I am confident, takes the issue very seriously, and recommends UVA to tis readers.

U.Va. Named to List of "50 Top Colleges for African Americans"

U.Va. Remains 'Leader by Far' Among Nation's Publics in Graduating Black Students

crs1909

a list to compare UVA to other top publics for Black Enrollment/Graduation Rates

Comparing Black Enrollments at the Public Ivies

melli

Meh, seriously. No one will be hated at the University for being a certain skin color. You will not have trouble making friends because of your skin color. Unless you have a habit of throwing your race in other people's faces and trying to start up a fight over ever single possible little word other races say, you will lead a happy and fine life at the University.

Really, don't need to worry. =) I'm in my ethnic organizations, I yell Mandarin across the street when I see friends, and I love to laughingly scoff at certain aspects American culture (granted this isn't culture but Arches in the winter? Seriously? Folks are nuts. =P). You're coming to C'ville this summer aren't you? Come on several tours, I'm a summer guide. You'll know who I am when you see me. I can allay your fears in person. =)

gurlinthasticks

thanks to everyone for the articles, they were all really informative

db123: yeah, im going to uva. see you there!

Melli: sorry if im wrong (this may be a horrible case of coincidence), but are u about 5'-5'1" tall, was a guide during spring fling, and talk to a girl who left her parents b/c they walked too slow??? if u did that was me

gurlinthasticks

...ignore this ...

galoisien

This phenomenon of self-segregation and racialism (as opposed to racism) can be just as bad as racism, IMO. This is especially what I wish to escape from in my current high school.

davethevaskir

All colleges have some sort of social problems.

There is some self segregation, but i never felt any tension, and my<insert minority here> friends i think of as friends, not "my xxxxe friend" (and i presume most of the ppl I know would say the same) Except the ones who made a big deal about it.

I second what melli said in terms of race.

Not everyone is happy at uva, but race isnt the issue.