After reading Justin Carrino's July 9th column in The Dartmouth, "Affinity housing is a Joke," I was pleasantly surprised to hear that affinity housing was/is an issue that "causes the greatest volume of debate among students at Dartmouth." However, my question is ... who are these students? Why not hold a forum where your concerns and questions can be answered and resolved? Since when can there be a "debate" where there is no one to lend voice to the opposing view point? Let me be clear, I am not responding for any other residents of affinity houses. I personally found Carrino's column bogus and the epitome of his charges of discrimination. Herein we find the purpose of my response -- to educate and explain why affinity housing is not only far from a joke, but is indeed necessary for the diversification that you imply you are so anxiously in pursuit of.
First, it needs to be understood that being black (or a person of color for that matter) is not a "disadvantage." I do not and cannot "use it to my advantage" and it is not a "special problem." More importantly, affinity housing has not been established on Dartmouth's campus to ease the "guilt" of your "parent's generation," or "sympathize with ... only those 'problems' as obvious as skin color or national origin." Maybe Carrino forgot what he wrote in the opening of his article upon writing its conclusion, but, as he stated, there is also housing for those students that do not choose to live around alcohol and drugs, the River apartments, and other "houses" that consist of people who would like to reside in a more home-like environment.
It was apparent that by the end of Carrino's article that his focus was strictly upon people of color or those of diverse national origins.The purpose of Shabazz Hall is not to house African-American students who are unable to deal with being African-American on Dartmouth's campus. Shabazz Hall is an academic communal living space. It is connected to the African and African-American Studies department. You must write an essay to live there, simply being black does not give you carte-blanche. Having lived there myself, I have found that the best terms have been those when there was diversity in the housing at Shabazz. The interactions that have taken place during these times, gave each of us the opportunity to learn from one another. There has been no real isolation within Shabazz Hall during my two years at Dartmouth. Many of us who may reside in affinity houses have relationships that extend beyond our temporary residence that are created by participation in activities, clubs, organizations, teams, and more importantly, our classes.
I think it would be the purpose and objective of all of the affinity housing programs to unite students, especially those who fill out an application and want to learn more about African and African-American cultures. I have seen it work and believe that the experience is a great one. It is through this living experience that a "community" is formed, and stereotypes and misinformation are destroyed. It is when affinity housing is implemented effectively that it works, not to "maintain comfort and exclude" or to "increase the lack of social standing" but rather to show through interpersonal relationships that "our lifestyle is just as valid as any other, and we want it to be treated as such."
As there are flaws in anything, some may try to seclude themselves within their residence. However, as a student of color, I can attest that any attempt to seclude yourself from Dartmouth's majority is futile.
I personally did not come to college to seclude myself, but I didn't come seeking the acceptance of anyone either. I came for an education first and if I can learn about my culture and about someone else's culture along the way, I am privileged. The very housing that is being criticized is that which can be used as a vehicle for the development of the "Dartmouth Community" Carrino seems to care to preserve (or create).
For further information, I would hope that you would contact the heads of these affinity houses, people such as Dean Sylvia Langford, Mary Liscinsky, Robert Braile and/or Lynn Rosenblum. You may want to also refer to The Dartmouth's April 16, 1997 article entitled, "College's Best Housing can be Difficult to Fill." Then you may learn more about the River Cluster, Hillel affinity housing, The Brewster International House and other houses that one day will hopefully not be so hard to fill, because there will be more people who care to become educated and learn about other cultures in addition to their own. Who knows, you may even decide to pick up an application!
P.S. Justin Carrino: If you ever really decide to get that nocturnally-inclined group started, let me know. I too am a night person, and as of late, I have become an insomniac!
