Student Council hosted a panel of administrators and student leaders yesterday in order to discuss issues of housing and race as a part of its forum, "Is it Really Random? A Forum on Diversity in On-Grounds Housing."
Moderated by Ryan McElveen, chair of Student Council's Committee on Diversity Initiatives, the panel brought up significant changes that were made to the housing process in 2001.
According to Director of Housing Accommodations John Evans, these policies changed the way housing receipts were processed so that incoming first years who turned in housing forms early would no longer have an advantage in dormitory assignments.
Most of the forum, however, focused on current myths and realities regarding first-year dormitories.
Patrick Martinez, president of the Minority Rights Coalition, and Patrick Lee, president of the Asian Student Union, noted the existence of stereotypes about the racial, ethnic and social make-up of first-year dorms, particularly those on Alderman and McCormick Road.
"I was told, 'If you want to live with white people, you live in McCormick,'" Lee said, adding that he first heard about housing stereotypes from his two older brothers who also attended the University.
Evans, however, noted that the only criterion for determining where first years live is the housing application, which does not ask about racial identity.
The panel also discussed the idea of randomizing housing assignments completely, so that incoming first years would not be able to designate preferences for Alderman and McCormick dormitories.
Maurice Apprey, dean of the Office of African American Affairs, encouraged a degree of choice, saying students should start from a comfort zone and then reach out to students of different backgrounds.
"If we don't bridge out," he noted, "then problems begin."
Director of Residence Life Angela Davis echoed this sentiment.
"Nobody's trying to force you out of your element," Davis said, "but at the same time we don't want things to always be easy for you."
Davis added that although students may find a niche with one group, they should feel comfortable among all University students.
"This entire place belongs to you, wherever you wish to go," Davis said.
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