Oberlin's College Ghetto Dorms
MIT prof, airplane pilot, entrepreneur, and software designer Phillip Greenspun went to visit Oberlin with a friend and the friend's son and was surprised to find an intentional on-campus ghetto:
I was also struck when the student guide told us about a dormitory with an African heritage theme and specializing in serving "soul food" (link). She also mentioned a "Third World House" where "people of color" and "of low socioeconomic status" could live (link). It seemed odd that a college administration could set up places like this. Suppose that the school put out a Web page saying that "70 percent of our students are white and from wealthy families. Despite their stacks of cashmere sweaters, they wouldn't feel comfortable living with anyone who was poor or black. So we'd appreciate it if students with darker skin or without a closet full of designer outfits would please move into Third World House or Soul Food Dorm." If it wouldn't be okay to do that, why is it okay to have the houses at all?
They had a "diversity house" I think it was called when I was at school in the 90s. Anyone could live there.
A bigger problem was there was a special orientation for women of color, but it was the same time as the regular orientation, so the ladies were segregated during orientation week
NicoleK at March 22, 2015 1:22 AM
I though minority students WANTED "safe spaces" where they wouldnt have to be oppressed by the mere presence of a white person
lujlp at March 22, 2015 1:47 AM
Back when I was in college; we had "segregated" dorm floors. But, they weren't always obvious as they were based upon major. i.e. pre-med students were on one floor, business majors were on another, etc. Nor did most of us even notice until one of the RAs pointed it out because I'd say about half of any given floor had students who were not in that floor's designated area of study. The idea behind this was so that students with similar interests would be roomed together. And, it was meant to be more inclusive rather than exclusive. These special dorms at Oberlin are exclusive.
That this is happening at Oberlin is truly sad as Oberlin was one of the first (if not the first) college in the US to allow women and blacks to study side-by-side with white men.
It makes me wonder what the educators from back then, who took the steps to open their doors to all who were academically qualified, would think of this segregation today?
charles at March 22, 2015 5:55 AM
"Separate but equal"
Hope it works better this time.
Bob in Texas at March 22, 2015 7:07 AM
Oberlin is basically an academic resort for wealthy kids who can't get into more competitive schools. It a modern day finishing school.
A few years ago students reported a lone Klansman roaming the grounds of Oberlin in full regalia. The school went into lock down and held a mass therapy session.
Unfortunately it turned out that the klansman was one of their own students in a sheet. But the school never informed the students of that. They were so excited to have been victims of a "hate crime" that the school didn't want to disappoint them.
mom at March 22, 2015 11:24 AM
Oberlin is a magnet for hate crimes.
Sorry, I mean hate crime hoaxes. If you google oberline hate crime hoax you get about 3400 matches.
I R A Darth Aggie at March 23, 2015 9:05 AM
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