<p>I love to go to ND for many reasons. Nd has a beautiful, safe campus, good school spirit, and good football team, etc. Everything is perfect for me except that about 80% of the students are white. </p>
<p>As an Asian who lived in Korea for more than 10 years and haven't been really around white people in my entire life, I'm little bit concerned about racism and discrimination at ND. </p>
<p>Is Racism and discrimination a really big issue at ND? and moreover, are there clubs or organizations for minorities? For example, chinese club, korean club, japanese club etc.???</p>
<p>You may or may not understand the connotation behind the word "racism," but it is an incredibly powerful word. To accuse a whole campus of "racism" is not something to be taken lightly. </p>
<p>I would never use the word "racism" to describe our campus, ever. Yes, there may be a distinction made between different groups (and others can confirm or deny this), but all in all, the campus is definitively welcoming. And any distinction is purely made by those participant in said groups. Koreans like to identify themselves as Koreans, Irish people like to identify themselves as Irish, etc. As far as "discrimination" or "racism" goes, I've seen none of it.</p>
<p>Clubs are an important part of campus life. There is a club for pretty much everything, from juggling to those of Hawaiian descent. Although I am Irish and have little to no experience with the subject, I would be incredibly surprised to find out that there isn't, in fact, a club for whatever you'd like. Also, you can always just start a club, it's really very easy.</p>
<p>well said kevdude, kor_jp... i am actually kind of offended that you would ask this. just because there are white people doesn't mean there is racism</p>
<p>in fact, i would say white people have become the most welcoming group in america... to ask such a questions means that you truly have some reservations about my race and many others and i will say that bothers me</p>
<p>I also had some questions regarding diversity at ND.
I personally don't mind the lack of diversity at ND but I'd really disappointed if I don't see a lot of intermingling among various racial groups, as in African Americans chillin' only w/ African Americans and Asians only mingling w/ Asians.
I'll be sure to keep an eye of that when I visit next weekend. 0_0</p>
<p>"I love to go to [Berkeley] for many reasons. It has a beautiful, safe campus, [good school spirit, and good football team, etc.-maybe not] Everything is perfect for me except that about [40%] of the students are [Asian]</p>
<p>As an [white] who lived in [Utah] for more than 10 years and haven't been really around [Asian] people in my entire life, I'm little bit concerned about racism and discrimination at [Berkeley]." </p>
<p>How would you respond to a posting like that on the Berkeley board? Of course, you would probably never see such a posting there. Why would you assume that, because most ND students are white, that they are racist? This is the United States. Most people are white. That doesn't mean that they are racist, or that they discriminate against Asians.</p>
<p>Claremarie... that's not exactly what i meant. I think the word "racism" was too strong and sorry for those who misunderstood what i was really trying to say. I was just worried that people may have some stereotypes towards miniorities. To be honest, as a person who NEVER lived in the U.S. (well i visited US for a vacation but didn't really live there), I didn't know much of US culture. For those who don't know, minorities, especially koreans, tend to hang out together. For example, in Carnegie Mellon, ONLY KOREANS HANG OUT WITH EACH OTHER. So i just thought that whites are like koreans who tend to hang out with each other and rarely talk to people of different races. Moreover, i just heard from my school alumni that there IS subtle discrimination towards minorities. So that kinda worried me a lot. Sorry about that. And thank you for those who replied my posting and pointed out some problems that may lay some misunderstanding.</p>
<p>sorry about that... i never lived in the states and didn't know us culture. so i just assumed that whites are like koreans who tend to hang out with each other only. Once again, if you were offended, i really apologize for that.</p>
<p>No problem.
It's been my experience living in the DC area for many years that Koreans, more than nearly every other ethnic group, tend to hang together, whether in high school or college and beyond. The Annandale neighborhood in Fairfax County has dozens upon dozens of Korean stores, restaurants and businesses all clustered together. The older Korean ladies at the rec center have their own water aerobics class. There are a number of Korean Protestant churches that rent space from "white" churches and hold worship services on Sunday afternoons.<br>
My husband is a university professor. One of his star Korean students got a great position at a university in North Carolina, and took our whole family out to a wonderful Korean restaurant where we were the ONLY white customers. But there are not many Koreans in North Carolina, and he ended up returning to Korea after a year or so because his wife felt isolated. </p>
<p>Many white high school and college students, particularly those from major metro areas, are very welcoming of those from other backgrounds. If there is any "segregation," it is usually a deliberate choice on the part of the other students who feel more comfortable around those from their culture. </p>
<p>I don't think you'll find discrimination at ND. But you also won't find a critical mass of other Koreans, which means no Korean food in the dining halls and no Korean restaurants in the area.</p>
<p>speak for yourself, clairemarie.. You don't know that it is a deliberate choice. If you say that of the minority, then the same may be said for the majority. That, my friend, is implicit discrimination.</p>
<p>I don't think there's much (if any) overt racism at Notre Dame. It's a polite environment, and though a few students may harbor racist tendencies, they generally don't express them. It's more underhanded offensive things that go under the radar...like students in Morrissey decorating the halls to resemble the "ghetto" and dressing up as African American gang-members. </p>
<p>Finally, claremarie, it's not just that minorities self-segregate, so do whites. Whites could as easily join an all Korean table in the dining hall as the Koreans could join an all-white table. I think it's offensive that you say "Koreans, more than nearly every other ethnic group, tend to hang together, whether in high school or college and beyond"--sounds like just another stereotype. Also please tell me how ethnic enclaves are any different than wealthy caucasian-dominated suburbs?</p>
<p>PrincessND, this is my experience. It might not be yours, but as the OP himself mentioned, many Koreans DO tend to stick together in this country, which is what led to his original question.<br>
In this area, at least, the "wealthy suburbs" are not white-dominated. Just on my street alone, there are people from the UK, India, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, Germany, and Turkey. The school bus stop is like a mini United Nations. My sons' experience, in both public and private schools, was that many of the Korean kids didn't mix much with everyone else. Perhaps the DC area is unique, in that many Koreans move here expressly for the schools, and since there are so many of them they are able to create enclaves in which they can retain their language and culture. There is a huge Vietnamese shopping center in Falls Church, with more than 100 stores and restaurants, but the Vietnames tend to live all over, not concentrated in one neighborhood.</p>
<p>I live near Chicago and the Korean students who attended both my middle school and my high school all tended to just socialize with one another - they were always speaking their language and never really bothered to socialize with anyone else. It wasn't a bad thing - just an observation from my own experiences.</p>
<p>The mixing of Koreans with other students will be no different at Notre Dame than anywhere else. That being said, I wouldn't be concerned because no one is going discriminate because you are Asian let alone Korean in particular. The Korean Student Association had an awesome dance routine at Asian Allure. </p>
<p>As for Morrissey's Gangsta Christmas, two of the participating students were African-American and if they had a Gangster Christmas and wore zuit suits I doubt the Italian Club would care. It was a matter of personal opinion on the part of Wabruda, not underhanded and offensive.</p>
<p>Just because African Americans participated doesn't mean it wasn't offensive. That's like saying it's okay for the KKK to torment blacks if they find a black member who agrees with them. And last I checked Italians aren't really experiencing the same kind of things AAs are, so I think that point doesn't really do much for your argument. Italians don't see themselves constantly blared across the TV with negative images of them as gang members; blacks continue to try to overcome these stereotypes. I have a few very good friends who lived in Morrissey (both black and white) and they thought it was offensive. And no one should have to go "home" everyday to something they find offensive so that others can be crudely entertained. But alas, I digress.</p>
<p>ND isn't all that racially diverse, but I don't think there is much of a problem with racism. Some students self-segregate (mostly black students and Koreans- though I know a few of these who don't), but a lot of them don't. And yes, there are clubs for minorities (Asian American Association, Black Student association, Korean Student Association, etc.). Also, one of the neat things is that there are also cultural clubs which aren't limited to minorities. For instance, there are a LOT of non-Japanese people in Japan Club. There are also a few non-Asians in AAA (though not many). Also, I am the president of the Chinese Cultural Society (next year will be my second year in the position) and I'm white. Actually, about half of our club is non-Chinese.</p>
<p>Thx shellzie2006. You just clearly answered my question and i feel a lot better now. Thx for those who also tried to help me out. I really appreciate that.</p>
<p>Dude, you're not going to find much if any racism in South Bend. I've personally been there and it's a fantastic place. If you're outgoing and considerate you won't have a hard time making friends anywhere. (usually)</p>
<p>I haven't really witnessed blatant discrimination against minorities here. I wouldn't say theres not much racisim here, and as far as clubs and the Korean community goes: like others have said, there's a Asian American Association, as well as other more specific clubs like Korean Student Association and Japan Club. As for the Koreans here, its a lot how you say you've experienced, as in they tend to mostly hang out with each other, all the Koreans know each other, and they pretty much have their own "community". This isn't to say none of them hang out with anyone who's not Korean, I have some Korean friends who are in that "group", and I'm not. And I also know some Koreans who don't tend to hang out with that "group" either. BTW, I'm half Korean, check the SN, but I'm pretty much fully Americanized, if that means anything. Hope this gives you a better idea of what its like.</p>