<p>Everyone here seems really conscious about race and tend to only socialize with their own race. Even if it's diverse, Berkeley is a prime example of self-segregation. I really dislike this aspect of its atmosphere. Also, when people date outside their race (say Caucasian and another minority), people tend to place higher expectations on the other minority simply because he/she is dating the Caucasian. </p>
<p>Discuss.</p>
<p>Yes, what you say is very true. </p>
<p>Many races self-segregate. However, I have to question whether it could be done any other way. I mean no harm, but consider that::</p>
<ul>
<li><p>East Asians seem to disproportionally want major in engineering, math, science, or be premed. This means that, since those majors are TOUGH, these students will keep to their race in forming study groups and joining Asian organizations like ABA. It's not conscious self-segretation, it happens by defaut. </p></li>
<li><p>European-American students are more mixed. From personal experience as a third-year Asian female in the humanities, I would argue that European-American females tend to disproportionally favor being in the humanites, while their male counterparts are mostly either in the social sciences or engineering. Again, they do not choose to do this. It's not their fault that the field they're insterested in isn't populated by URMs.</p></li>
<li><p>Out of the few Hispanics on this campus, few seem to be in math/science/engineering/premed. Instead, they are in anthropology, ethnic studies, or psychology. How can this be avoived? It cannot. People choose their major or major-path through their interests. Hispanic students at Cal, in the vast majority of cases, do not go to high schools that stress math and science. Since that is so, they go into the humanites (and especially psychology) by default.</p></li>
<li><p>African-Americans are a RARE sight on the Cal campus. And of those that are actually seen, it seems that most are in African-American studies. Moreover, the males are almost always atheletes. How can they interact with most of their Asian peers if they have nothing in common?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Overall, people tend to associate with people who share their interests or lifestyle. Many minorities, notably African-Americans and Hispanics, in general, do not share the same interest as their European-American and Asian-American counterparts. They tend to not like the same music, talk differently, play different sports, live in different parts, speak differently, etc. In other words, it's not strict racism per se. It's racialism-people of certain races associating with people of the same or similar race who share their interests. </p>
<p>For those who think this is a Berkeley-specific program, I recommend the first couple of chapters of a book which highlights the exact same self-segregation process at Harvard: </p>
<p>I agree, Berkeley has far too much self-segregation, but I definitely think that this problem is apparent at other schools. I visited a school in southern California known for being the school that is most "diverse," and it was obvious that self-segregation was present. I noticed a similar thing (to a less extent) when I visited my friend at a northeastern LAC over Spring break.</p>
<p>One thing I can think of- have the ethnic or racial themed housing have more activities for students outside of those. If you have high concentrations of say, African Americans across from me in Unit I, then why not have them have more than just 1 open house this school year? How about monthly activities? And not just "accept diversity" programming, just fun stuff. I've spoken to a group of three students who live there randomly one time, but only one time, and while I think it's good if African American students can get support and have a better experience by living together, I think that more should be done to branch out.</p>
<p>I don't know what you mean when you say, "people tend to place higher expectations on the other minority simply because he/she is dating the Caucasian." I haven't noticed that.</p>
<p>I agree that there is a LOT of self-segregation at Berkeley. It did surprise me, because in high school, everyone interacted with each other. On the other hand, in high school, the percentage of minorities was low, so it would hardly be feasible for minorities to only hang out with their respective groups. But here, there's this definite sense of race and association. I'm an Asian, and I know whenever I go to an event or whatever where not everyone knows each other, Asians will approach me more than those of other races. I can only assume this is because I'm Asian...</p>
<p>I think sweet has a point. For a school the size of Berkeley, a minority that is relatively small is still quite large in absolute terms and can thus more easily segregate with their own group.</p>
<p>I also feel that the way Berkeley is organized (class-wise and dorm-wise) leads to natural self-segregation because they are very few opportunities to meet and associate with other people on a constant basis.</p>
<p>It's absolutely true, and quite false too. Thousands of students do fit within this description. I had a housemate who was Cantonese-American from Sacramento, who seemed to hang out with other Cantonese-Americans from Sacramento most of her college career. Kind of sad actually...</p>
<p>However, Berkeley is so large that the segment of students who don't segregate along racial/ethnic lines, which comprises perhaps half to two thirds of campus, is a huge community within which everybody socializes and reaches out to other ethnicities. You see that for example in football games, where the student section swellls to 8,000 for the Big Game. Every color in the rainbow under the Blue and Gold, a beautiful sight! </p>
<p>It's also true that there are a tons of Asians and other minorities who are eager to interact and learn about other cultures. I've gained valuable cultural insight into many parts of the world from my close interactions in class and outside with students from other ethnicities. For instance, I took one year of Mandarin and got a lot of exposure to the culture through socializing with Chinese and Chinese-American students. Another roommate was from Beijing, he was very eager to learn about American culture and other cultures represented on campus, we had great conversations about his country, about food, politics, economics and many other cultural issues. I've had similar interactions with representatives of countless other nationalities and ethnicities (that list would be incredibly long, from full-blood Lakota Native American to Lithuanian.)</p>
<p>That was really helpful in business, as one startup I worked for was Taiwanese-owned. Berkeley had prepared me well to do business in Taipei. No other top school is so well geared towards Asia, which is a great advantage given that the continent is the focus of economic growth in our lifetime.</p>
<p>The other side of the coin in terms of diversity is the socio-economic dimension, where Berkeley is far, far more diverse than just about any other top university. From a recent student survey:</p>
<p>
[quote]
To the best of your knowledge, which category includes the total annual combined income of your parent(s) before taxes in 2004?
600 (5.5%) Less than 10,000
746 (6.9%) 10,000 to 19,999
1263 (11.6%) 20,000 to 34,999
1047 (9.6%) 35,000 to 49,999
1064 (9.8%) 50,000 to 64,999
1018 (9.4%) 65,000 to 79,999
1192 (10.9%) 80,000 to 99,999
1573 (14.4%) 100,000 to 124,999
693 (6.4%) 125,000 to 149,999
782 (7.2%) 150,000 to 199,999
909 (8.3%) 200,000 or more
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Even at other top public schools like Michigan or Virginia, the rate of socio-economically disadvataged or less affluent students is drastically lower (only about 10%). High-end academia has become the near-exclusive domain of the wealthy, but not at Berkeley, where your dorm hallway will have the son of a custodian and the heiress of a fortune living side by side.</p>
<p>self-segregation does occur at berkeley but it is definitely not contained to berkeley and happens at most schools across the nation.</p>
<p>I think other universities are somewhat better though. Maybe it's because Berkeley emphasizes race and diversity so it ultimately makes it more segregated.</p>
<p>many other schools I've encountered are the same or worse.</p>
<p>Im Asian. I Love Hanging Out With Other Asians. We Like Going To Eat Sushi And Get Boba Drinks. I Also Love Other Kinds Of People.</p>
<p>I love eating sushi and getting boba (or other Asian food) with Asians (or any cool people who are friendly). I'm white. Yay.</p>
<p>yay for DRab!</p>
<p>Boba is not an asian food. It's pieces of boiled tapioca combined with an unhealthy amount of sugar and cream. Its just something manufactured to convince white people of what "asianess" is, like the fortune cookie which was made by an american for distribution in American-asian restaurants.</p>
<p>So it's not from Taiwan or anything like that?</p>
<p>I don't know, maybe its from taiwan. That was an unfair statemetn, its to convince americans in general (including american-asians). Its soooo unhealthy, I feel like throwing up when I drink it (I stick to a low-carb regime). THey just pour a crapload of cream and sugar into it to make it taste good. It may be from taiwan but a lot of my native asian friends from chinese places said they've never heard of it before they came to the US. My parents think its an abomination.</p>
<p>PA, boba is a Taiwanese thing, unlike fortune cookies which are San Franciscan.</p>
<p>It's no worse than most of the crap from Starbucks, tappioca teas are made from semi-fermented Oolong (that's one of the most popular teas in taiwan) which is good for you (antioxidants.) This being said, I don't like them either, too sweet. I prefer thai ice tea, which I suppose is just as sweet, but hey...</p>
<p>Thai ice tea flavor ice cream rules (green tea ice cream is good too.)</p>
<p>Also, the reason why the may not understand "boba" is because it's pronounced differently in Mandarin, depending which name you choose to call it. There's one Mandarin translation that calls it "pearl milk tea" because "boba" means something else in Mandarin (slang). </p>
<p>Also, different locations call it different things. In Perth (Western Australia) and some locations in the U.S., it's called bubble tea.</p>
<p>self-segregation happens everywhere</p>
<p>Of course it happens everywhere, but it's not as prevalent in many, many other areas.</p>
<p>yo needadvice...can you give me some advice regarding....something personal.</p>