It seems like everything in my life lately has revolved around race. In fact, there are too many instances to mention. I came from a small, sheltered town that was racist and assumed that when I came to college everything would be different. This was not exactly the case. In general, Caucasians socialized with Caucasians, African Americans with African Americans, Asians with Asians, and so on. It disturbed me a little, but then I realized this only happens because people associate with other people of common ground. At first I thought it was just the blacks segregating themselves on campus but later realized it was the white students, too. Both groups were just socializing with people who they could better relate to. Of course, there were many exceptions to this, but for the most part that was what I saw.

I was perfectly happy with this explanation I had conjured up in my head. Then during the middle of my freshman year, I started thinking differently. I became friends with a black guy who would not go in public with my friends and I because he was afraid of the criticism he would get from his black friends. I was confused why our relationship had to be somewhat secret with him. I wanted to form friendships with people of other ethnic groups and cultures, and I was disappointed when I discovered I could not do it in college.

My junior year proved to be different. In fact, I went to the extreme and started dating a black student. I have been seeing him for a year now and within that time he has told me about discrimination problems he has had since he has been at Ohio University. Not discrimination from white people, which he has had, but discrimination from black people simply because he had numerous good friends who were white. In fact, just last weekend my boyfriend came down to visit me and received a remark when passing someone on Court Street. He knew the black students whom he passed from when he was in school and was aware the guy disliked him because of his white friends. My boyfriend figured it was a thing of the past and said "hi" anyway. The guy started at him and said in a condescending tone, "What's up brother." The emphasis on "brother" made it sound like my boyfriend was disloyal to all black people.

I think this guy is absolutely ridiculous. He is probably one of those guys who hates all white people and shouts "Black Power" wherever he goes (please understand I am a little biased against this guy). This thought brings me to a column I read April 16 titled "Racist thoughts go many ways." The author mentions black people can say and do certain acts and have it not be racist, but white people who do the same would be considered racist. The example given was "Black Power" is considered OK, but "White Power" is racist. I agree with the author when he says both are racial terms.

With my years at OU and this article in mind, I do believe this campus has a segregation problem it has to overcome. I know there are people who come to OU and explore other cultures. I am a perfect example of this. Therefore, I am not saying everyone is segregated on campus, but I do think we should have more activities that mix ethnic groups so the segregation that does exist can be decreased.

Angela Bowyer

ab215095@oak.cats.ohiou.edu

majnun41@frognet.net