A taxpayer-funded university in Nevada is denying claims that it has designated certain ‘identity-based’ dorm rooms off limits to whites ‘for the safety of student participants.’
It was alleged on Wednesday that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) does not permit white students to live with African-American, Native American, and Latino classmates at a campus dormitory, according to the Young America’s Foundation.
But a spokesperson for the university told DailyMail.com that the YAF report was inaccurate and that a university official in charge of dormitories 'misspoke' when he was quoted as saying that the living quarters were off limits to whites.
The dorm, Great Basin Hall, has instituted so-called ‘living learning communities,’ or LLCs, according to YAF.
‘In these communities, students with shared academic, social and cultural interests live on the same floor and attend courses together,’ according to the university web site.
‘This experience is considered a "high-impact practice," promoting...higher grade point averages [and] higher first-year to second-year retention rate.’
The image above shows Great Basin Hall, a dormitory on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno
The LLCs are designed to make it easier for students to ‘interact and engage with academic and administrative faculty outside of the classroom’ as well as ‘develop personal relationships with peers of similar academic, social and cultural interests.’
The UNR web site lists a total of 15 LLCs, most of which are designated according to the college that students plan to pursue their major, including the College of Business, College of Science, or College of Engineering.
Four of those LLC are distinctly identity-based - black scholars; indigenous; gender, sexuality and identity; and ‘Latinx.’
The black scholars LLC ‘connects all students and provides a supportive environment to collectively explore black Identity, cultures and communities,’ according to the web site.
The LLC also ‘will provide support, mentoring and networks necessary for educational success and empowerment while providing a comfortable living experience on campus.
‘Students will have the opportunity to connect and network with peers and faculty who identify as black faculty, engage in common black studies classes, and participate in cultural events and activities on campus and in the local community.’
The other identity-based LLCs offer the exact same services for students from their respective ethnic and gender-based backgrounds.
When a reporter for Young America’s Foundation tried to get a better understanding of the requirements for gaining entry into one of the identity-based LLCs, she was informed that white students could not register.
‘In the identity-based communities, for the safety of student participants, it is important only students who hold that identity are considered,’ Dean Kennedy, who heads UNR’s Office of Residential Life, Housing, and Food Services, told YAF.
But the university released a statement to DailyMail.com claiming that Kennedy misspoke and that whites are free to live together with the minority students in the LLCs.
The university on Wednesday pushed back on claims that it did not permit white students at specially designated sections of the dorm known as 'living learning communities.' The image above shows one of the dorm rooms inside Great Basin Hall
'Living Learning Communities (LLCs) are a national best practice in university residential life and housing communities,' according to UNR.
'These communities have been defined as high-impact best practice in higher education by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
'The headline listed in the Young American’s Foundation story is inaccurate.
'University administration never stated that white students could not participate in our LLCs – they are not called “minority-dorm communities.”
'Our Executive Director of Residential Life, Housing and Food Services Dean Kennedy misspoke in giving his statement.
'These LLCs provide a sense of community and belonging, especially at research-intensive institutions.
'The University of Nevada, Reno’s 15 LLCs are open to any and all students living on campus.
'All communities are required to take courses specific to their LLC.
'These courses are offered as part of the general course catalog and any students can take the classes.'
On Facebook, reaction to the initial report by YAF was largely negative.
Lanie Fuller wrote: ‘If the students and their families who are being targeted by this blatant racism don't fight back this is what will be considered normal. File complaints. Possibly lawsuits. Fight back.’
An earlier report claimed that whites were not permitted to live together with black, Native American, and Latino students in Great Basin Hall. The university has denied this
Gary Lee Connor wrote: ‘My guess is if there was a hall who wanted to exclude all but white they would come down on them like a ton of bricks.’
John Shebanow wrote: ‘Do they have a white only living learning community? If not, it's patent discrimination based on Race and the racists who concocted this evil scheme should have their asses sued clean off.’
‘Dr. King will be rolling over in his grave,’ Stuart Boyd commented.
UNR is a public university founded in 1874. Its student body counts nearly 18,000 undergraduates and more than 3,000 postgraduates.
For Nevada residents, tuition at UNR costs about $8,000 a year while out-of-state students pay around $23,000 per year to study there.
No comments:
Post a Comment