SEPARATION ANXIETY SERIES

Poll gauges U. race relations and CHRIS LAKE Vision Staff Writer On campuses nationwide, racial tension has been a hot topic, but the University has often been at the forefront of the debate. Several incidents, including the April confiscation of more than 14,000 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian by the Black Student League, the controversial "water buffalo" case, and several bomb threats received at DuBois College House, have highlighted the University's problems. But a recent poll, sponsored by the DP and The Vision, shows that in general students do not think race relations are as bad as they are often portrayed to be. About half of the 377 students polled said people of different races mix on campus, while half said they feel race relations are a "major problem" at the University. For a campus that has been dedicated to improving race relations and to fostering "diversity," these numbers are noteworthy in that they show a certain indecision or even apathy among students. But when broken down according to race and school year, the poll results reveal a wider array of opinions. For example, more than half of the white students and more than 60 percent of the Asian students polled believe people of different races mix at the University. But more than half of the Latino students polled and almost 75 percent of the black students polled feel students of different races do not mix on campus. Students' opinions also differed according to their year in school, with optimism seemingly decreasing over time. Freshmen tend to be more optimistic about race relations on campus, while upperclassmen seem to see things in a more cynical light. For example, freshmen were most likely to say that people of different races get along on campus (60 percent), but sophomores and juniors agreed to a lesser extent, 47 percent and 40 percent respectively. Surprisingly, though, seniors were more likely to agree that races mix well on campus (50 percent). So, although opinions about race mixing drop for three years, seniors appear to change their minds. This could be due to the fact that seniors – who often live off campus and are more focused on future plans than on the University – could be less in touch with campus attitudes and problems. · On issues directly involving minority students – such as the questions of preferential treatment and the approval rating of College House programs – student opinion tends to be divided along racial lines. The issue of minorities receiving preferential treatment at the University evoked strong responses, especially from black students. While a slight majority of Latino students and more than 60 percent of Asian students disagree that minorities receive such treatment, an overwhelming 96 percent of black students disagree. Though it is not surprising that minority students do not think preferential treatment occurs, many white students are also of the same opinion. Forty-six percent of white students agreed that minorities do not receive preferential treatment at the University. The poll also asked students what they thought about the effect of numerous College House programs on race relations. There were differing opinions about DuBois College House as opposed to other college houses. Just over a third of students polled felt that college houses – such as Modern Language, Ware and Van Pelt – have a positive effect on race relations. A large number of students – 50 percent – had no opinion or did not know such programs existed. As for DuBois College House, the numbers were quite different. A little less than 20 percent of all students agreed that the house is beneficial to race relations on campus, but a whopping one-half disagreed. Nearly 30 percent had no opinion or did not know of the house's existence. Even though students in general do not believe DuBois House is beneficial to race relations, black students see the house in a different light. More than two-thirds of black students felt that DuBois House, a predominantly black residence, has a positive effect. Reasons for this may include the community atmosphere, comfortable environment and support systems which residents enjoy. About 20 percent of white students had a positive opinion of DuBois House, and Asian and Latino students produced similar numbers. · Concerning social interaction involving students of all races, respondents have definite opinions on which programs are beneficial to race relations, and which programs are not. For example, the Greek system has a negative effect on campus race relations, according to a large majority of students. Only 13 percent of all students polled said the Greek system – considered by some to be elitist and separatist – is beneficial to race relations, with 58 percent disagreeing. Even among Greeks, who constituted 18 percent of the students polled, the inclination was that the Greek system did not benefit race relations at all. More than half of the Greek members polled said the Greek system does not have a positive impact on race relations. But, as another example of social interaction, students did agree that freshman living arrangements affect campus race relations in a positive way. This is particularly noteworthy given recent discussions on campus about randomizing housing for all freshmen. Nearly 60 percent of all students polled agreed that freshman living arrangements were beneficial, while about a quarter disagreed. So, according to many students, randomized housing may not be necessary because the present system seems to do a decent job assigning freshman dormitories. · In another series of questions, respondents were asked to rank the overall state of race relations on campus, and race relations between various ethnic groups. Each was on a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the highest. The mean score for the overall race relations question was a middle-of-the-road 5.4. Students felt that race relations were about average between blacks and whites (4.9) and between blacks and Asians (5.2), but relations between whites and Asians were given the highest score (7.2). Also interesting was that students rated the relationship between black students and Jewish students at a somewhat lower 4.75. Respondents were hesitant about answering questions regarding interracial dating, especially when asked which specific races they would date. Overall, 82 percent of students say they approve of interracial dating, but not always for themselves. Although Blacks were the least likely to approve of such relationships in general, almost 63 percent still said they approved. As might be expected, students have no trouble dating other students of the same race. And for the most part, they say they will date students of other races as well. Exceptions are that only 30 percent of black students said they would date a white student, and just under 38 percent of black students would date Asian students. Black students, although only minimally represented on this poll, seem to have the strongest opinions of all the races polled.