UCLA prides itself on academic excellence, world-class research
and a diverse student body. But many students believe
self-segregation occurs on campus, with students choosing their
friends along roughly ethnic lines.
Based on casual observations, it is possible to see that
clusters of students form at various points around campus. On any
given day, many of those clusters seem to consist mainly of one or
two distinct ethnicities. At least on the surface, it looks a lot
like self-segregation.
Sometimes, there are specific reasons for the clustering, like
when a cultural group is practicing a dance or a student
organization is rallying for a specific cause. But other times it
seems the students just happen to have friends who are of their own
ethnicity.
Outside observers have reported this phenomenon as well. The
Princeton Review, in its summary of UCLA’s campus
environment, writes: “Students report that Bruin undergrads
tend to form cliques, often along racial and ethnic
lines.”
As college is supposed to be a place where people learn about
themselves as well as others, this self-segregation means students
are exposed to a smaller range of viewpoints and perspectives on
social issues.
To be sure, having a strong ethnic identity is good. But the
problem arises when students don’t also seek out friends from
other groups. Understood in that light, self-segregation can be
seen as a symptom of more complex problems.
In 2003, a mere 121 black students came to UCLA. The same year,
only 647 Chicano and Latino students came to UCLA. In fact, only
about 18 percent of students at UCLA fall into any underrepresented
category.
The “white/Caucasian” category, which represents 31
percent of the students who decided to come to UCLA, actually lumps
together many subgroups, including Turkish, European, Iranian and
Arab students.
The Asian category, which adds up to 42 percent, mixes Chinese,
Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and other
ethnicities and nationalities into one huge group.
So, in the case of some students, especially those from small,
underrepresented campus minorities, it is understandable that they
find comfort with members of their own ethnic group. UCLA is a big,
sometimes frightening place, and people benefit from a core group
of friends and acquaintances.
But, in a perfect world, students from all backgrounds would mix
and mingle. Campus debates would represent many viewpoints, and
friendships would form regardless of skin color.
Unfortunately, here at UCLA students must struggle to experience
the complex and lumpy version of diversity UCLA has to offer.