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Several recent studies have found that being randomly assigned to a roommate of another race can lead to increased tolerance but also to a greater likelihood of conflict.
Recent reports found that lodging with a student of a different race may decrease prejudice and compel students to engage in more ethnically diverse friendships.
An Ohio State University study also found that black students living with a white roommate saw higher academic success throughout their college careers. Researchers believe this may be caused by social pressure.
In a New York Times article, Sam Boakye—the only black student on his freshman year floor—said that “if you're surrounded by whites, you have something to prove.”
Researchers also observed problems resulting from pairing interracial students in residences.
According to two recent studies, randomly assigned roommates of different races are more likely to experience conflicts so strained that one roommate will move out.
An Indiana University study found that interracial roommates were three times as likely as two white roommates to no longer live together by the end of the semester.
Grace Kao, a professor at Penn said she was not surprised by the findings. “This may be the first time that some of these students have interacted, and lived, with someone of a different race,” she said.
At Penn, students are not asked to indicate race when applying for housing.
“One of the great things about freshman housing is that, with some exceptions, the process throws you together randomly," said Undergraduate Assembly chairman Alec Webley. “This is the definition of integration.”
“I‟ve experienced roommate conflicts between interracial students that have both broken down stereotypes and reinforced stereotypes,” said one Penn resident advisor (RA). The RA of two years added that while some conflicts“provided more multicultural acceptance and melding,” there were also “jarring cultural confrontations.”
The RA said that these conflicts have also occurred among roommates of the same race.
Kao said she cautions against forming any generalizations based on any one of the studies, noting that more background characteristics of the students need to be studied and explained.
What can we learn from some recent studies?
Interracial lodging may have diverse outcomes.
（根据从第一段最后一句“a roommate of another race can lead to increased tolerance but also to a greater likelihood of conflict” 可知最新研究发现与其他种族的室友合住有利有弊。 ）
What does Sam Boakye's remark mean?
Being surrounded by white peers motivates a black student to work harder to succeed.
（根据文章第四段可知 Sam Boakye 是他班上唯一的黑人学生， 他说在周围都是白人学生时他会更加努力学习，而这也符合第三段“living with a white roommate saw higher academic success” 与白人室友同住会在学业上取得进步的观点。 ）
What does the Indiana University study show?
Interracial roommates are more likely to fall out.
（根据第七段“An Indiana University study found that interracial roommates were three times as likely as two white roommates to no longer live together by the end of the semester.” 可知跨种族室友的更容易分道扬镳。 ）
What does Alec Webley consider to be the “definition of integration”?
The school randomly assigns roommates without regard to race.
（根据 Alec 人名定位到文章倒数第四段“One of the great things about freshman housing is that, with some exceptions,the process throws you together randomly” 可知这里的“integration” 指的是大学不考虑种族随便安排住宿。 ）
What does Grace Kao say about interracial lodging?
It is unscientific to make generalizations about it without further study.
（根据全文最后一句“noting that more background characteristics of the students need to be studied and explained” 可知 Grace Kao 认为应该对学生们的背景和性格做更多的调查分析。 因此在他看来没有进一步的研究就把种族不同的学生们安排在一起是不科学的。）