Spring Break
The Daily OrangeStudents offer up reasons for racial divide on campus
By Christine Show
Posted: 10/6/04, 2:24 AM EST Section: News
As Syracuse University attempts to make diversity an important element on campus, statistics show that the student population may have a different view.
About 71.7 percent of black and Hispanic upper-class students live on South Campus, and minority students make up 33.5 percent of the total South Campus population, according to David Kohr, the director of Housing, Meal Plan and ID Card Services.
According to Collegeboard.com, black and Hispanic students account for 10 percent of the student population at SU, with 8 percent choosing not to report their race or ethnicity.
"There is a big difference," Kohr said. "Clearly for African-American students, South is a place of choice."
Despite the distance from main campus, minority students are choosing the independence, sense of community and apartment-style living of South Campus in large numbers, leading to a geographic separation based on race at SU.
"So many students of color live on South," Kohr said. "There are 120 more (black students) at South than on North," Kohr said.
When looking at the statistics of just upperclassmen minority students, the contrasting populations living on North and South Campus is large.
About 77.6 percent of black upperclassmen live on South Campus. Likewise, 61.2 percent of Hispanic upperclassmen choose to live on South Campus.
Freshmen comprise about 60 percent of the black and Hispanic students living on North Campus.
"You can conclude that most of the Hispanics on North are first-year students," Kohr said.
Kohr believes the high numbers of black and Hispanic students on South Campus exist because of the comfort the students have living with friends from similar backgrounds. He also said the students enjoy the benefits of the area, such as cooking and personal space, that they would not have on North Campus.
Some minority students living on South Campus agree.
Cordell Enniss, a sophomore majoring in entrepreneurship and finance, believes the social scene for black and Hispanic students is more vibrant on South Campus.
"The social aspect is a major point," Enniss said. "There's after-parties thrown at South."
Enniss believes that the high percentage of minority students choosing to live on South encourage other minorities to live there as well.
"As the statistics show, the atmosphere is much more conducive (for minorities) on South," Enniss said. "Most of your friends are on South. It sucks if you're the only person in your clique on North."
