<p>In my research of schools to which I may apply, I have repeatedly come across accounts from current students and alumni about the lack of tolerance at the University of Virginia. </p>
<p>Normally, I don't put a lot of stock into isolated negative comments about a school, but those related to racism, sexism, and sexual intolerance in the student body at UVa are disconcerting. </p>
<p>Can any current student or recent alumnus comment on the validity of these comments? Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m really curious about this as well. When I went to visit, I saw plenty of African-Americans hanging out with the white kids, but I did hear some people talking as though they were a little leery of international students. But that was only a 1 day visit, so I’m really not the expert…</p>
<p>Where the accounts from the same folks as those who talked about UNC?</p>
<p>there are quite a few threads on this… lmgtfy [site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia</a> racism - Google Search](<a href=“site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia racism]site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia - Google Search”>site:talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia racism - Google Search)</p>
<p>“Where the accounts from the same folks as those who talked about UNC?”</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>I am still concerned about this. Out of 143 views, no current student feels strongly enough about the fallacy of these claims to refute them. Hazelorb’s links are both outdated and filled with conflicting accounts about racism at UVa. </p>
<p>I think I may have made up my mind about not applying.</p>
<p>From a recent alumnus:</p>
<p>“Racism thrives vibrantly throughout its student body, and their ignorance is what causes disgust amongst those few who DO NOT think in this way–because as a University of Virginia student, they are all marked the same”</p>
<p>From a current student who wrote an overall positive review.</p>
<p>“There are a lot of snooty, arrogant people at this school, especially the women, and there are a lot of classless, supersexist, racist people. Indeed, a majority of the student body is from Northern Virginia, and they tend to be WASPy, middle/upper-middle class, and somewhat close-minded.”</p>
<p>I think there’s a bit of fatigue around this topic. Time and again, students address this topic and have to repeat what has been written many times before.</p>
<p>There has been a lot of good discussion about race and ethnicity in this forum. Just use that search link Hazel posted to look back at what has been discussed and let us know if you still have questions.</p>
<p>Regarding the quote you just posted: As a selective school with a rich history, many of our students are proud to be here. Some may interpret that pride as snobbery. </p>
<p>We’re a public school of a little over 13,000 students. I don’t think it’s possible to label such a large group or make a general declaration about their attitude. What’s more, with a 97% retention rate, we seem to be a place where most students feel happy and comfortable.</p>
<p>“There has been a lot of good discussion about race and ethnicity in this forum. Just use that search link Hazel posted to look back at what has been discussed and let us know if you still have questions.”</p>
<p>As I stated earlier, I did check his links and read all posts. There were mixed responses. Some said the racism was almost nonexistant, others said it was more common but defended it as being unavoidable at a big school. </p>
<p>I agree that some racism is unavoidable with 13,000 students, but if it’s even accepted by the majority of those students, I don’t want to go to the University of Virginia. I have yet to hear from a current student that the minimal racism at UVa is not tolerated by the administration or fellow students. In fact, I hear more people playing it off as inevitable. </p>
<p>When we asked the tour guide during our visit to UVa about interaction among different groups on campus, she referred us to the numerical racial diversity. As many have pointed out, there is a difference between diversity and integration.</p>
<p>I don’t want to come across as hostile; I am simply an interested student trying to find answers to a concern. I don’t think it’s unfair to expect new responses from current students instead of links to outdated threads that brought to rise more concern on my part.</p>
<p>Perhaps you have interpreted the academic or philosophical discussions in past threads as evidence of intolerance. I see them as the opposite. We discuss race and ethnicity because they are important to us, especially with respect to college admission and student life.</p>
<p>I think it would be more disconcerting to encounter a college where these topics weren’t being discussed.</p>
<p>The fact that the topic is discussed does not concern me, nor did I intend to convey this. I am talking about the campus itself, not College Confidential.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you’re trying to get trouble started, but here is what I will say.
<p>It should be obvious that what they say is untrue and stereotypical when they say that a majority of the student body is from one place (only 1/3 of the student body comes from northern VA, and even then many are from the non-affluent northern va schools). However, I am not a minority student, so I would still urge you to visit for yourself. I do have minority student friends, and they seem happy here to me. I’ve never heard them say anything like those quotes.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure if you’re trying to get trouble started”</p>
<p>Read post #11.</p>
<p>Hazelorb, you may be missing my point. Am I asking about the tolerance of those who are racist, not the number of those who are racist. I still have yet to hear one account attesting to the intolerance of racism.</p>
<p>The atmosphere for the tolerance of racism is something that any student should be able to attest to. It is far more general and appropriately stereotyped than an individual’s behavior because the mood for tolerance of racism is something that is influenced by the sub-culture of any given school.</p>
<p>I am a current student. Based on my 1 year at UVA, I had no encounters with racists or with racist incidents, so I have no idea on how racists will be tolerated.</p>
<p>I’m a current student and I have not seen any racist behavior. In my experience it would not be tolerated. Are there isolated cases of such conduct? I have heard rumors of isolated incidents but this school is not racist.</p>
<p>As for the Northern Virginia racist comment, I beg to differ. Northern Virginia is a suburb of DC and is an extremely diverse and politically liberal area. Your information is at best misguided and at worst flat out wrong.</p>
<p>If you have concerns, check out other schools. I’m a little tired of hearing stereotypical comments about UVa from folks with no hard data.</p>
<p>“I’m a little tired of hearing stereotypical comments about UVa from folks with no hard data.”</p>
<p>I’m not trying to present credible evidence either way. I’m trying to hear honest opinions from current students. I hoped that this would be understood and resepected as a reasonable, if false, concern. </p>
<p>However, thank you for the feedback.</p>
<p>My brother attended UVA from 2001-2004 and he told me that during that time, there were acts committed against minorities, and specifically African American students. They weren’t overwhelming, but they weren’t completely sporadic. However, he said many efforts were made in that period to find ways to improve relations between races. During my time at UVA (2006-08), I can’t think of more than a handful of incidents, some of which may not have even perpetrated by UVA students (things that may have happened on the Corner or closer to downtown).</p>
<p>One of the biggest controversies I can remember would have been the “Ethiopian Food Fight” comic in the Cav Daily. This wasn’t even intended to be racist, as the creator stated it was meant to address the seriousness of African famine. However, the outrage/protest over it resulted in the comic being pulled and the creator being forced to leave his position. </p>
<p>Like Hazelorb stated, racism is a reality, it’s very difficult to avoid instances of it entirely, even at UVA or in the general Charlottesville area. However, I never knew anyone who actively participated in any racist acts, and the people I knew would certainly not have tolerated any racist acts.</p>