For years, predominantly White institutions have worked to etch out a space where students of color could assemble to discuss their issues and identify mentors. And for years, this space has come in the form ethnic-themed student organizations, cultural centers, fraternities, sororities and, in some cases, ethnic-themed dormitories.
And while ethnic-oriented student organizations on PWIs have been known to positively impact minority retention and graduation rates, these groups can also foster greater racial tension among racial groups and stifle social integration, says Dr. James Sidanius, a professor of psychology and African American studies at Harvard University, and his team of researchers in their book, “The Diversity Challenge: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations on the College Campus.”
“Diversity Challenge” is the largest and most comprehensive study to date on college campus diversity, the authors contend. The researchers followed 2,000 University of California, Los Angeles students for five years to see how diversity affects identities, sociopolitical attitudes, and group conflicts over time.
“Data from our study showed pretty conclusively that intergroup contact reduces ethnic tension and increases in friendship across ethnic lines,” says Sidanius. “Universities should do everything in their power to increase the level of contact between different ethnicities. They should make roommate assignments random and fight against the natural tendency for students to segregate themselves.”
