Interethnic Relations on Campus: Can't We All Get Along?

Abstract

This study examined the ethnic climate and relationships between ethnic groups at 5 colleges. Data indicate that White and Latino students were the most comfortable interacting with other ethnic groups, whereas Asians students were the least comfortable. Furthermore, White students had a relatively positive view of the interracial climate in contrast to Black students who described their campuses as more hostile and uninviting.

Factors Influencing Positive Interactions Across Race for African American, Asian American, Latino, and White College Students

“…As findings from Chang et al (2004) and Mack et al (1995) suggested, students of varying racial backgrounds often experience diversity in complex ways, indicating a need for a more detailed analysis of those factors that might promote and facilitate positive cross-racial interactions. Saenz (2005) offered an important venture into this research void with his focus on the saliency of pre-college measures in affecting students' positive cross-racial interactions during college.…”

“…Mack et al (1995) found that different groups vary in their comfort level when interacting with others based on the contexts in which those interactions occur. For example, Asian students indicated the greatest discomfort when interacting with other groups in academic or social environments, while African American students indicated discomfort particularly when interacting with White students in more intimate contexts.…”

Perceptions of Institutional Commitment to Diversity as a Predictor of College Students' Openness to Diverse Perspectives

“…Much of the quantitative research conducted using national survey data quantifies interracial interactions with relatively cursory individual-level variables, such as the frequency with which students dined, studied, or partied together (antonio, 2001a;Gurin et al, 2002). While research has acknowledged the influential role diverse student interactions play in shaping students' college experiences, previous research has provided only limited insights into college students' interactions with their peers (Chang, Astin, & Kim, 2004;antonio, 2004a, 2004bMack, 1995;Sáenz, Ngai, & Hurtado, 2007).…”

Methodological Implications of Grouping Latino Adolescents into One Collective Ethnic Group

“…Items were coded so that higher values indicated greater exploration and commitment toward one's ethnic group, more participation in ethnic behaviors or activities, and more positive feelings and preferences toward one's ethnic group. The MEIM has obtained moderately strong alpha coefficients (.81 to .92) in a number of studies (see Cuellar, Nyberg, Maldonado, & Roberts, 1997;Mack et al, 1997;Phinney, 1992;Taub, 1995).…”