<p>ID: In the real world, most colleges and universities have “theme housing”, i.e. racially segregated housing which elevates “cliques” to a higher order of magnitude.</p>
<p>I think I understand what youre trying to say with this but I think the negative connotation (to be specific, segregated and cliques) is undeserved. BTW, I partied enough at Swats Black Cultural Center to know that its also a residence although that may be differentnow.</p>
<p>In my experience, segregated housing is often (strangely) a complaint more by white folks than by the minority students who choose to live there. There are several groups who benefit from themehousing. 1st, some students of color who attend elite schools come from backgrounds where there are no other minorities and college is the 1st real opportunity to really interact with others who have gone thru a shared experienc. For example, other than my sister, brother and I, the only other minority person in our public school was my best friend who was Jewish. I didnt live in Asian housing at HC, but I understand how it could have been a great resource for some young individuals beginning to form their identity. 2nd, some students of color also come from a background where there are no/few white people around and the transition to a school where at least 60% are white, many suburban, most well intentioned but some occasionally clumsy when interacting with students of color (especially URMs), is a new experience that can take several years for minority students to adjust to. Having a home place for these students (if they need it) to then go out and explore the larger community is important as well. These places can also be a good experience for interested white students to visit (always open to the campus) to learn <em>with</em> (not about!) friends who are minorities where the power/social dynamics put the white person in the minority and out of their comfort zone.</p>
<p>Finally, a LAC experience is the definition of integration. You live on a small campus of only 1200-2000 kids, made smaller by the isolated geography of some/ lack of a consortium for others, eat in 1-2 dining halls, go to one plenary, go to one Screw, choose between only a certain # of classes, ect Worrying about segregated housing in this larger context where students can interact with one another is a detail in the greater scheme of LAC social dynamics.</p>