2008 Woodie Awards
Do Union students self-segregate?
Nathan Seder
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
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One of the most frequently discussed issues at Union College is race. As many American institutions of higher education do, Union has placed emphasis on the importance of attracting minority candidates and increasing enrollment. Like many colleges and universities that draw the majority of their students from affluent upper-middle class backgrounds, Union College has made strides but continues to grapple with the integration of a diverse student body.
Though few would argue that Union is segregated along the lines of 1960s America, the common cliché is that black students sit together at one table and white students sit together at another. While some feel there is nothing inherently wrong with this, and that people ultimately associate with those they feel most comfortable with, the Jena Six incident has unleashed a whirlwind of questions over integration and segregation in America and how much of a role race plays in our society, and the Union community, today.
The consensus on campus, both among students and the administration, was that Union has made strides in the past several years in integrating minorities into mainstream campus life-notably the Greek system-but there remain many institutional barriers.
Jessica Rudin, '08, Student Forum President and a member of Sigma Delta Tau, stated, "Greek life at Union has become more integrated, but because of the nature and history of Greek organizations, [it] remains somewhat segregated on the national level. Even over the past few years, there's been more diversity in the campus community at Union," stated Rudin.
One point of note was that the Student Forum is predominantly minorities.
"Certain clubs and activities are more segregated as some clubs and organizations will attract more people, but I don't think there is apparent racial tension," concluded Rudin.
Carla Reeves, a member of the Latina-based Lambda Pi Chi sorority, stated that students prefer to interact with people they feel more comfortable with.
Though few would argue that Union is segregated along the lines of 1960s America, the common cliché is that black students sit together at one table and white students sit together at another. While some feel there is nothing inherently wrong with this, and that people ultimately associate with those they feel most comfortable with, the Jena Six incident has unleashed a whirlwind of questions over integration and segregation in America and how much of a role race plays in our society, and the Union community, today.
The consensus on campus, both among students and the administration, was that Union has made strides in the past several years in integrating minorities into mainstream campus life-notably the Greek system-but there remain many institutional barriers.
Jessica Rudin, '08, Student Forum President and a member of Sigma Delta Tau, stated, "Greek life at Union has become more integrated, but because of the nature and history of Greek organizations, [it] remains somewhat segregated on the national level. Even over the past few years, there's been more diversity in the campus community at Union," stated Rudin.
One point of note was that the Student Forum is predominantly minorities.
"Certain clubs and activities are more segregated as some clubs and organizations will attract more people, but I don't think there is apparent racial tension," concluded Rudin.
Carla Reeves, a member of the Latina-based Lambda Pi Chi sorority, stated that students prefer to interact with people they feel more comfortable with.
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