Think of the experience as a precursor to marriage: you are living side by side with a person whose needs you must accommodate, who is entitled to half of the space in your room, whose unpredictable emotions will affect you, and who you will find it difficult to leave. Now imagine that you have never met this person and that they are from a different cultural background! Indeed, moving in with a new dorm mate can be stressful, challenging, and even downright terrifying; still, every year OSU freshmen willingly accept the challenge of acclimating to a complete stranger in the interest of developing new friendships and cementing their membership in the Buckeye Nation. For students who have never roomed with a non-family member, sharing a space can be stressful, especially when the person is from another culture. The risk is clear, but the rewards one can reap through this experience may benefit more than just the individuals involved; they may benefit society as a whole.
In a July 7, 2009 article published in The New York Times, OSU Professor of Psychology Russell H. Fazio discussed his research that suggests that pairing interracial roommates can ultimately reduce prejudice, diversify friendships, and even improve the academic performance of a multicultural student. In essence, the article speculates that persons from underrepresented ethnicities actually benefit from being paired with students from majority groups. Fazio’s research hypothesizes, “Perhaps having a white roommate helps academically prepared black students adjust to a predominantly white university.” Fazio’s study is based on data accrued over two years of studying OSU students and his statistics suggest that the GPA at the end of the first academic quarter tended to be better for minority students in interracial living situations, while a white students' academic success was not affected by roommate race.
This research also revealed a large amount of risk that accompanies this seemingly unintended social experiment. According to recent studies at OSU and other academic institutions, relationships between interracial roommates can be more stressful and more likely to break up than same-race pairings. This is logical, considering that people from different cultural backgrounds have differing interpretations of what is acceptable behavior for a roommate and what might constitute disrespect. The result is often an initial friction between interracial roommates and ultimately an inclination to move from one’s dormitory. In fact, three times as many interracial roommates no longer wished to continue cohabitating at the conclusion of the first term, as compared to non-interracial dorm mates. The New York Times recounts, “The interracial roommates spent less time together, had fewer joint activities and were less involved with each other’s friends than the white pairs.” Fazio’s study attributed this rate of attrition to the preconceived racial biases of white students, a factor Fazio claims predicted failure from the beginning.
But at Ohio State, changing roommates is often not an option. As Fazio told the New York Times, “At Indiana University, where housing was not so tight, more interracial roommates split up. Here at Ohio State, where there was a housing crunch, they were told to work it out. The most interesting thing we found was that if the relationship managed to continue for just 10 weeks, we could see an improvement in racial attitudes.” Therein lies the question for many who initially struggle in their new relationship; can enduring this challenge really better your situation at OSU? The research seems to suggest that it certainly can.
Other factors seem to support the notion that giving up on your interracial roommate can lead to dire consequences: specifically, the temptation to culturally isolate oneself. According to Claudia Buchmann, an associate professor of sociology at Ohio State, “Minority students in a predominantly white environment often cocoon themselves by clustering together.” While maintaining contact with one’s roots is essential for success, it is equally important to integrate into the university community and feel comfortable among the predominantly white student body.
I recently had a conversation with my freshman roommate and good friend and we realized not only how risky the venture was, but also how much we learned about ourselves and each other during those first months. Being randomly placed in a quad — a small dorm for four people — was a real challenge, especially considering that we all came from different social and racial backgrounds. We quelled our egos as best we could, divided our space, set house rules, and tried hard to balance our own needs with those of our roommates. Most importantly, we understood that we were all from different backgrounds and we made a concerted effort to make it work!
In keeping with this message, something important to keep in mind as you adjust to your new roommates is your attitude: be understanding and positive. Remember, learn to recognize your differences and settle your disputes from the beginning. As Ohio State senior Carlos Alfredo Flores counsels, “I would advise to be proactive about problem solving and not one-sided.” For those entering this new world, be prepared for an experience that allows you to learn about yourself and your capabilities by learning from individuals who are very different from you. Stay dedicated to making this relationship work; doing so can only enrich the Ohio State community.
If things do run awry, don’t be afraid to seek help. Contact the Student Wellness Center by email (wellness@osu.edu) or phone (614-292-4527).
Happy Living! |
