I don’t think it is a problem more than at any other college. There will always be jerks. There will always be micro aggressions under the guise of joking. At any college there will be people who just don’t get it.
If he is wanting to play sports I would ask some pointed questions. That is something that you should do everywhere.
The demographics of St Olaf today are very different from the St Olaf of 10-15 years ago and that is a good thing. Students are coming from across the country and there are more international students. There is better outreach to minority students locally and in the Cities.
I had often felt that the minority population had not reached critical mass. A person I spoke to disagreed. The idea was posited that because the numbers are greater, students can band together and support each other through tough times and feel like some one has their back if they speak up. It has given me something to think about.
A plus to the student body is that being nice is valued. The students that supported the sit in where attentive to the speakers and really wanted to learn and have change happen.