<p>Well, the title kinda says it all. Why do Asians on college campuses do that? I know its one of the biggest complaints others (non-asians) have. I spent a year at college, I'm Asian, and I found the situation to be unbearable! </p>
<p>I went to a high school where the Asian population was very, very small. I knew everyone- there were about 6 or 7 of us and that included Chinese, Koreans, Indians and Pakistanis. So yeah, they were my friends, as were Caucasians and Hispanics and African Americans. </p>
<p>I had a good deal of Asian (esp. Chinese) friends outside of school during my high school years that I met through other channels and I still keep in touch with some of them. Nonetheless, they were certainly not the only people I hung out with. </p>
<p>But the point is, self segregation is problematic and it (in my opinion) hurts campus life. So a few questions: If you're Asian, why do you do it? If not, do you see it as a problem? What can we do to change the situation? Obviously foreign students have it more difficult...its extremely hard for them to assimilate. Im talking about Asians born and raised in this country.</p>
<p>P.S. Now I'm not just talking about Asians per say. I think this phenomenon occurs with minorities as well.</p>
<p>i guess when ure the minority its always nice to find people with whom you have a common culture and a semblance of (though sometimes ridiculously intangible) bond of camaraderie and fellowship...in schools that are predominantly white or south/east/whatever, azns might not gel as well... adapting needs time, and i guess some azns opt for familiarity.</p>
<p>that said, that would totally defeat the purpose of attending an american college (if ure an international), because YOUR purpose in being in that college is to add an extra statistic into the diversity scorebook. you are supposed to expose your batchmates to your world, and offer people an alternative insight that might stem from your different upbringing or culture.</p>
<p>however, to the op, isnt it ironic how when whites stick with whites, nobody says a thing? i mean, you dont see a whole bunch of white jocks and go, "oh gaawddd these people are SO not trying to blend in with the rest." but when you see a bunch of minorities doing that, the first thought you probably be that they are aloof and unwilling to mingle. i guess it's the visible differences that make the grouping of minorities such a sore point and a thorn in your flesh.... so hey! if you dont like it, change it! if ure an azn, start bringing your azn friends to meet ur caucasian friends... and if ure caucasian, time to start meeting more azns :)</p>
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however, to the op, isnt it ironic how when whites stick with whites, nobody says a thing?
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<p>Considering whites make up the majority of the American population, a white is statistically more likely to meet another white than to meet a black, or a hispanic, or an asian.</p>
<p>As an asian born in America, I think that it's always been human nature to differientiate and to stick with the familar. But, personally, I have a wide range of friends from different races. Well, some times, I even try to stay away from asians because of "competition" vibes. I actuallly see more of a trend of non-American-native asians herding together. But, I think that that is more understandable because they have a more common language, roots, culture (even!), etc. Then again, asian-americans also tend to "herd" together on the basis that they also have their own sub-culture of being raised as, possibly, the first-generation in america and dealing with fob parents, etc. But, personally, as a Chinese-American, I hold no barrs against race and, in college, will continue to befriend people based on their character mostly, at least.</p>
<p>^^ Chris: Yeah, but I don't think that's why certain groups are composed entirely of white people. I don't blame them though. If you live in an area where 80% of the people are 'like you' then why would you make an extra effort to hang out with the 20%?</p>
<p>Ehh if this topic gets popular then I'll post my thoughts on it :)</p>
<p>I go to a school with a massive Asian population (35+%), and yeah, there is what we like to call the Asian Mafia. I'm Caucasian, and my friends are about 50% Asian/50% white. So they don't /all/ feel like they are obligatory members of "The Mafia". But, I have no issue with folks who want to gravitate towards people with whom they share things in common - a second language, FOB parents, whatever. I know that when I meet another Italian person, there is almost an immediate bond. We talk about our massive family holiday parties, our overbearing Nonnas, and wine (plus, I've met a couple Italians who are gay or vegetarians, which leads to some pretty funny stories that other people just don't get as well)! Anything two people have in common is an ice breaker, and a lot of times leads to friendship. People call this "self segregation", but it is just human nature. I am sure they are very open to making friends with people of other races - introduce a member of the Asian Mafia to one of your white friends, and I don't think there will be any hostility! </p>
<p>lol wow i never thought i would find this thread :) its gud to know these threads exist, im asian too and from california but im goin to indiana university which is like 80% caucasian. asians hang together cuz we asians feel comfortable with each other. other races like caucasians are significantly "different" from us so naturally its hard to be their friends and have fun with them. for me, i've lived pretty much in a asian bubble and havent had much interaction with other races (i mean like being close friends with other races of people) and thats why i applied to IU, to get out of my comfort zone, not be narrow minded and to make friends based on who they are and not their race. people say we are a "melting pot" and in some senses we are, but overall and in the long run, we still have quite a bit to go before we can truly say, america is a melting pot of culture.</p>
<p>See...what I'm against is not that Asians are hanging out with Asians. That's fine. (actually, the funny thing is- its not always Asians with Asians but rather Chinese with Chinese, Koreans with Koreans, South Asian with South Asian). I'm proud of being Asian and Chinese, and I do feel a certain affinity with Asian culture. Therefore, at times, its nice to be with people like you. Birds of the same feathers flock together..thats fine. That's not the problem. My problem is that there are some of these people who NEVER or RARELY even attempt to make friends who are non-Asian. Are you seriously telling me that Asians have nothing in common with Caucasians, Asains of a different nationalities, Hispanics, etc?</p>
<p>"however, to the op, isnt it ironic how when whites stick with whites, nobody says a thing? i mean, you dont see a whole bunch of white jocks and go, "oh gaawddd these people are SO not trying to blend in with the rest." but when you see a bunch of minorities doing that, the first thought you probably be that they are aloof and unwilling to mingle."</p>
<p>What are you talking about; nobody says anything when whites stick only with whites? Are you from America? Earth? </p>
<p>besides I don't know many people who wonder why the 3/4 cup of water doesn't blend with the 1/4 cup of oil.</p>
<p>Interesting thread. My non-Asian son had very close Asian friends in high school in California, was even a member of the Asian club for a while, which just meant he was interested in Asia (and that they had the best food.) He did martial arts and used to joke that he thought he'd been meant to be born Chinese. He told me he is disappointed not to have found close Asian friends at college and blamed it on the phenomenon mentioned by the original poster. Perhaps it's his fault. I don't know how hard he's tried to join various organizations, but he feels those groups are for people from those cultures and not for people who just like or are interested in those cultures. We thought maybe it was more of an East Coast thing.</p>
<p>I'm an asian born outside the country, and I do the reverse of self-segregation. I segregate myself AWAY from other asians on campus, primarily because they tend to be *******s and I don't take any classes with them (seeing as how I hate science with a flaming passion and I'm not going into BC Calc...)...practically all of my friends are non-asian because they a) tend to have better social skills, b) tend to have similar interests that I do, and c) are easier to be around.</p>
<p>I don't know if it's an east coast thing...since most of my friends in New York were non-asian too....it's definitely not an east coast thing. :)</p>
<p>Maybe it has something to do with the environment you grew up in. Of all the races, I actually have very few Asian and White friends. I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood, and went to very diverse schools. I guess I never hung out with many Asians because most of them usually locked themselves inside their houses in my neighborhood. This was actually one of the main things I considered in choosing a college (diversity); my high school is currently 6% white, so this will definitely be a change in college.</p>
<p>yea it is human nature to mingle and socialize with people you can relate too and honestly i really cant say its a "bad" thing cuz like people mentioned, its only natural. but its admirable when there are people willing to go out of their comfort zone to meet other people and mingle with people that are a bit different from them.</p>
<p>as an asian (acually "south pacific islander"), i never really understood the herding tendencies of other asians. despite growing up in asia, most of my friends are white, with a few black and asian ones. i dont hang out with a lot of asian people and find it kind of scary that every asian person at my school seems to know every other asian person. maybe the have secret group meetings that i dont know about.</p>
<p>"as an asian (acually "south pacific islander"), i never really understood the herding tendencies of other asians. despite growing up in asia, most of my friends are white, with a few black and asian ones. i dont hang out with a lot of asian people and find it kind of scary that every asian person at my school seems to know every other asian person. maybe the have secret group meetings that i dont know about."</p>
<p>i don't quite get why should anyone MAKE an effort at meeting people of different race - if it doesn't come naturally, what good will it do to you? - unless you're very biggoted, but that means you have other problems and meeting diverse kind of people won't resolve such personality traits</p>
<p>well I've also noticed this too at my school, although at my school there are only about 10-15 asian kids but they all hang out at the library, all have the same classes, and all are on the badminton team, so it seems like they're never seperated.</p>