Demographics/Racial Interaction at UVa

<p>I've seen rankings about the lack of racial interaction at UVa, and I was wondering (perhaps from any UVa students or alums) how bad this truly is.</p>

<p>I'm filipino. I was born in the U.S. and have lived there all of my life. I live in a very segregated town (you could call it a redneck town) of North Carolina. I usually find no problem assimilating into whatever group with which I'm most comfortable, but I wanted to ask if anyone could make the severity of this racism/segregation more clear to me. Does it affect a non-white student's chances for particular membership in a fraternity? Does it affect particular aspects of the social life or just in general? Thanks</p>

<p>If you want to be social with all groups, you can be. Lack of inter-racial interaction occurs because people often self-segregate themselves. However, as long as you don't do the same you'll be fine. Also, I believe there is a very small number of fraternities where being a minority will hurt you/not get you in, but those are the ones you probably wouldn't want to join in the first place. UVA has over 30 frats, so that's no big deal.</p>

<p>Okay great. I think UVa is a great place, it's just that I've always heard segregated and UVa in the same sentence. Not to sound neglecting of my ethnicity, but I have assimilated to the point where I'm basically a preppy, conservative, and driven person with dark skin. I just needed reassurance that this segregation won't affect my experience. I don't let it get to me, but it's kind of hard to have fun at a school when the people you find interesting don't appreciate you because of your ethnicity.</p>

<p>youll be as segregated as you want to be. I will point out that the groups that really segregate them are asians and blacks. there are so few other races at the school that i believe since you are a filipino you shouldn't have a problem fittin ginto any group you wish to</p>

<p>You mean the groups that are segregated against? are the groups that do the segregating or self-segregating?</p>

<p>i mean that like...you'll find that black kids seek out other black kids to hang out with...same with asians. While you could say the same for white students - the fact is is that there are just a lot more white students. </p>

<p>its obviously self segregation - as segregation would be illegal ;-)</p>