<p>at least as far as it is being portrayed. Let's face it. Racism is not a serious problem at Trinity or, at least, no more than it is at other similar schools. A small incident that occurred several months ago, instigated by two or three potentially outcast racists on campus whom I do not know, was brought to the attention of the administration. In turn, the administration decided to exacerbate this incident into uncecessary biblical proportions by pontificating to the student body, OUR SCHOOL; OUR SCHOOL IS RACIST OH NO. Well in fact, less than ten students on campus might be racist. Due to the actions of the administration who decided to exacerbate the issue's seriousness by wrongfully and indirectly accusing the entire student body of racism by holding a forum to allow students to figure out ways to improve the campus community, the school has received its bad image. Simply expelling those who committed the misdemeanor would have quelled the issue much more efficiently. To be honest, the majority of students on campus are quite open-minded and tolerant of others unlike themselves. Trinity is in fact a very friendly place, and it is a shame that 5 lone wrongdoers should give a bad image to a wonderful and welcoming group of young adults.</p>
<p>metsfan1rar -</p>
<p>Aren't you doing the same the same thing you accuse the admin of doing? This forum was dead until you created this thread.</p>
<p>And, FWIW, Dean Spurlock-Evans was at a symposium at Wesleyan the other day and said some interesting things all of which can be applied to every member NESCAC, IMO. Among them was the statement that <em>class</em> rather than race is the bigger dynamic at these schools. Would you agree?
<a href="http://www.wesleyanargus.com/article.php?article_id=4518%5B/url%5D">http://www.wesleyanargus.com/article.php?article_id=4518</a></p>
<p>Not sure I agree that class is always a bigger dynamic at NESCAC schools. Certainly, the black populat at these schools is so small that one can easily feel uncomfortable. And many black students are also of modest means, os it is difficult to factor our either race or class. </p>
<p>I have noticed than when speaking of class as it pertains to black families, any black family that is not dirt poor is considered middle-class. This is true even when the black the family has only income, not wealth and they live in neighborhoods that, if occupied by White families, would consider working-class.</p>
<p>Also, as I recall from D's days at uber-elite girls'day school, White students on fin aid could often "pass" as full-fare kids, but black sutdents were always assumed to be on fin aid. This appears to also be the case in college - - everyone assumes that D's White BF is wealthy b/c he dresses well (a few expensive garments) and has a car. In truth, however, his fin aid award is more than double hers (he also has generous merit $).</p>
<p>As for Trin, D hated her visit there (except for her meeting with Karla Spurlock-Evans). She reported racially insensitive remarks from applicant families and her tour guide. And at tje end of D's interview, the interviewer didn't even offer D a card! This was markedly diff than the reception D rec'd at other, even more compet, schools. D definitely chalked it up to racism.</p>
<p>^
Can't you just write daughter?</p>
<p>If you've read these forums for long, you'd know this is accepted nomenclature.</p>
<p>I think it's very naive to think class is not a bigger issue than race at times. It is stated above that it is assumed white kids are full fare. While it might be unfair to assume black kids are all there on aid, the assumption itself is what is an ignorance of diversity. What does it mean to be middle class and do those who attend uber-elite all girls schools, do they have any appreciation for anyone who hasn't traveled as she has or might not be able to just plan a girls getaway to the city and stay in Daddy's penthouse. </p>
<p>Of course, I also know the black student who was a non-athlete with a mediocre record at best and was accepted into every school he applied. His father is one of the best ortho surgeons in town. </p>
<p>It's the assumptions that make people question the degree of diversity and the support of it.</p>
<p>Hello all your guys. I just registered my CC profile and I just saw this thread about trinity college. I was accepted to Trinity college in ED2 process and I was happy. I know that trinity ranks No.1 in Princeton review's Least Race/Class interaction and I am sure it's not a good news to hear, but since I am admitted among a large number of applicants that greatly exceeds the number of places available, I still feel really happy. </p>
<p>Since I got the chance to study in a top liberal arts college in this country, I will do my best to get good grades, and I will make efforts to socialize with different people on campus(I am an International student) because only by interacting with people with various backgrounds, social status and colors will make my college life more meaningful and thus, more helpful for my later career. I, of course, will consider the aspects of the so-called racism and the class/race interaction that are mentioned in numerous discussions. I am also a little worried since class/race discrimination can not be avoided, but I will definitely try to meet people, talk to people, and make nice friends. Seeing is believing. I can't wait to experience the real trinity this fall!</p>
<p>Again, good luck to see you guys in this thread! And I am happy to meet people admitted by trinity in advance!</p>
<p>um, Trinity is famous for having the majority of student population having graduated from East Coast prep boarding schools. This means that the overall atmosphere of the school fits into a certain confining stereotype i.e. preppy, waspy, elite-boarding-school-graduated, rich, etc. This assertion could well be condemned as a gross/risky generalization, but anyone who attends the school or knows kids who attend the school wouldn't deny the truth of it. I don't personally know any black kids at Trinity, but under the assumption that the racial minority is at Trinity on financial aid or scholarship as it often happens to be true at small private LAC, the seclusion of these different student populations must occur under the class segregation rather than racial segregation[!]. On the same note, I know a couple of white kids from lower class and poor urban district, and they surely do not fare well at Trinity. They don't feel as if they fit into the school very well, they don't have much in common with the rest of their classmates, they fel a little left out, etc. It's just the distinctive ambience of the college. I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with it; every school has its own taste and feel. On the other hand, I really don't think the problem is racism. It's probably the generally condescending attitude towards whoever do not come from the similar background as theirs.</p>
<p>hellomacy, i agree with you on some points, but not all.</p>
<p>there are very wealthy students here, who are a majority. are they preppy, waspy, elite boarding school graduates? i don't know. some are one or more of those things, but i know for a fact that you don't know every single student at trinity, and therefore all you can do is make blanket statements based on empirical truths.</p>
<p>there is little race/class interaction, because minorities' natural tendency is to feel a bond with other students from the same background, assuming that they harbor the same beliefs and experiences. this is not to say that there is racism though. </p>
<p>and i do agree that socioeconomic disparity is the real problem.</p>
<p>"They don't feel as if they fit into the school very well . . . they feel a little left out, etc. It's just the distinctive ambience of the college. I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with it. . . ."</p>
<p>That you don't see anyting wrong with this is distinctly Trinity and part of the problem. Also, while students of color often seek each other out, other campuses - - including elite LACs with large numbers of day/boarding school grads - - are far more hospitable than Trinity. There's a reason Trin is on the PR list for "little or no race/class interaction" and other elite LACs are on the "lots of race/class interaction" list.</p>
<p>I can't imagine my S thinking it was unusual that people of like races attract to one another. But there is a difference between hanging with or being part of an affinity group and no interaction. For some reason this happens at my son's school, but it is the complaint of the majority that many of the minority students segregate themselves. It is not from lack of welcome because there are exceptions most assuredly. And of those exceptions, it is very clear they easily move between both groups with ease and lack of judgement from either group of friends. On my daughter's basketball team, it is definitely the black girls who don't sit where the team usually sits and makes a place for themselves on the other side of the bleachers.</p>
<p>My point is, to say it's a Trinity thing is to suggest it is the white students perpetuating the problem, but from many community discussions between parents and students, it has been somewhat concluded that this is a personal choice and you can't expect the white kids to have a really deep and accurate interpretation of the black experience if none of the black students care to even get to know them.</p>
<p>"It is not from lack of welcome . . . ."</p>
<p>This may sometimes be the case, but generally if there is no cross-race interaction, it is b/c the urm students do not feel welcome. As for my D, she had attended a predom white top-tier day school (k-9) and boarding school (9-12); at both she had many white friends (and white bf). She described the "vibe" at Trinity was palpably different that at any of the schools she had attended or any of the elite LACs she visited. After the uncomfortable tour and interview, D didn't even bother applying to Trinity; she currently attends a top LAC (much more highly ranked than Trinity) known for being socially liberal.</p>
<p>
[quote]
she had attended a predom white top-tier day school (k-9) and boarding school (9-12); at both she had many white friends (and white bf). She described the "vibe" at Trinity was palpably different that at any of the schools she had attended
[/quote]
That's strange. The atmosphere of Trinity is known to resemble that of a typical boarding school more than any other LAC... hence the reason for having its students being stereotyped such ways as they are. </p>
<p>But I don't knowww. I don't actually attend Trinity myself (although I'm applying to it), so my knowledge of the school is hardly concrete. But I do have lots of friends who are at Trinity right now, and while they fit the stereotypical rich, caucasian, preppy Trinity student, none of them strike me as racist. Knowing them, it seems more about the socioeconomic issue regarding lifestyle/background of the students rather than just their color. Also, I think what BantamBoy and Modadunn said - some of the racial segregation comes voluntarily from the minorities themselves - is important to note.</p>
<p>No, it's not strange - - it just means that despite having students form a similar demographic, the students' values were different.</p>
<p>Certainly some urm students engage in voluntary self-segregation, but the absence of meaningful cross-racial socializing suggests a racially inhospitable campus. The inhospitable conduct/environment is a bad thing and should be addressed, even if it does not rise to the level of full-blown racism.</p>
<p>Listen to the hood wearers proclaim that racism is the fault of the minorities because they keep to themselves.</p>
<p>Priceless.</p>
<p>Gee Gtelvis, way to contribute positively to the conversation. You know nothing about me, my upbringing or my close friends and yet, you refer to me as a hood wearer? Ignorant and reprehensible. </p>
<p>One of the things that I have been taught since I was really young is to pay attention and have an appreciation for someone else's experience -- even if it is the same as mine on the surface. I have witnessed friends being treated so badly while shopping that I have reamed my share of retail salespeople over the years. It is my obligation to stand up and say, that's just not right. I try to really see how things might be different or less somehow because of money, color and/or people's educational opportunities. So I'd really appreciate the same courtesy as extend to others and have others please understand MY experience as well as the experiences of my children. </p>
<p>The thing is, you can call me a hood wearer, but my daughter and her white friends are clearly NOT welcome to sit with her teammates on the other side of the bleachers or to ask for a carpool ride with them either. However, the opposite isn't true in the least. But you can only ask so many times if someone wants to join the others, or needs a ride to the game, etc. Look, EVERYONE brings something to the table.... rich, poor, black, white, on and on. They bring it Good and Bad. So if my kids point out that certain kids really just want to hold onto their assumptions and stereotypes of white privilege, it's not like they can force them to get to know them in an effort to see something different. They just won't. And if you are not going to respect my experiences in life, please explain to me, what is my motivation to continue to try and understand yours? My friends are really open with me and point out differences in daily life that I would never even think of or assume. And other times we agree that the kid that is claiming racism the loudest is the one that race has nothing to do with why he's disliked.. by everyone.</p>
<p>Racism is something this country needs to talk MORE about in order to ever truly get past it. And it becomes hugely detrimental to any kind of tolerance, acceptance OR appreciation of a conversation when you start name-calling with monikers like "hood wearers." Please.</p>
<p>So frustrating!!!</p>
<p>Frustrating is some white suburban housewife who spends all her time posting about how she and her lily white children aren't racist, yet she desperately waits for news on admission to Amherst and Middlebury, 2 pigpens for the spawn of elitist northeasterners. A woman whose postings have an undercurrent of inherent racism as she posts about how the "middle class" doesn't receive the same treatment as the underprivileged or that schools are favoring international students with financial aid instead of "Americans".</p>
<p>Please, nobody wants to hear input from someone who thinks they've helped to advance the cultural diversity of this country by reaming their share of salespeople because they witnessed some travesty while shopping at Neiman Marcus.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Frustrating is some white suburban housewife who spends all her time posting about how she and her lily white children aren't racist, yet she desperately waits for news on admission to Amherst and Middlebury, 2 pigpens for the spawn of elitist northeasterners.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Are you aware that Amherst College has a higher percentage of African American students (by a wide margin) than every college that you've mentioned you're applying to?</p>
<p>Amherst College: 10.19% African American, 7.25 International</p>
<p>University of Iowa: 2.24% African American, 2.77% International
Case Western Reserve University: 6.01% African American, 3.65% International
Rochester Institute of Technology: 4.74% African American, 11.12% International
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: 2.08% African American, 1.53% International
Trinity College (CT): 6.74% African American, 4.06% International</p>
<p>And ad hominem attacks won't score you any points here.</p>
<p>I see, so I should go to school with my own kind, huh?</p>
<p>Guess I won't find many up in Middlebury by you, will I?</p>