Earlier this year I was walking around campus with a friend when we passed an acquaintance. We were invited to a small get together and entered a cozy common room. As we awkwardly shook hands with everyone asking the obligatory ...(back to the article)
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of The Daily Princetonian Publishing Company, Inc. We do not take responsibility for the opinions, facts, or claims presented by individual commenters, and reserve the right to moderate or delete inappropriate comments.
I’ve been in a number of situations like this at Princeton, especially since many students’ first social groups form through racially-themed student organizations. Perhaps the most important lesson from this is that if you find yourself in the majority group and notice that one person is left out, you should try to make them feel noticed, ask if they need an explanation, or change the subject to something more universal. Though of course, if the odd person out is a non-Hispanic who showed up to a Chicano Caucus event, it’s probably safe to assume they’re interested in the subject. It’s easy to maintain conversations when people have a common background, but talking about food and shared racial jokes can only go so far. By changing the subject, you may figure out whether or not you have much in common with your new friends beyond a shared cultural heritage. Princeton is all about improving your ability to operate in a variety of social groups, and being aware of whether you’re contributing to someone’s isolation is a key social skill.
Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down!
The encounter is a very good example of self-segregation. Don't blame the white population. Separate social spheres, whether it is interests or races, is mainly due to one's own choice, especially at school like ours.
Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down!