The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3 - 44

Bryan K. Hotckins * T. Elon Dancy

adverse psychological, physiological and behavioral outcomes (Hotchkins, 2014; Hotchkins & Dancy, 2015; Smith, Allen & Danley,
2007; Solórzano, Ceja & Yosso, 2000; Strayhorn, 2012). Hence, recent literature describes
hostile campus racial climates as encompassing the entire institutional environment that
extends beyond college classrooms into communal spaces, including residential domiciles.

THE ROLE OF CAMPUS RACIAL
CLIMATE IN RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING
Modern literature, concerning residential
housing and campus climate, found that in
many instances race relations at colleges are
microcosms of society, meaning the endemic
nature of racism is present. Koehler and
Skvoretz (2010) examined segregation in residential housing and found it is extraordinarily
difficult "to achieve residentially integrated
outcomes if race is salient at all, even when
the assignment of residence is ''color-blind,"
(p. 23). To this point, Black students had overwhelming preferences to reside in housing
where greater numbers of Black collegians
already lived (Koehler & Skvoretz, 2010) due to
a desired proximity near other Black students
in domiciles. In this study, Koehler & Skvoretz
did not control for belongingness, perceptions
of safety, or a sense of cultural normalcy. Additionally, we know when Black students live
on campus they maintain higher GPAs than
those living off campus with family (Flowers,
2004; Turley & Wodtke, 2010). However, what
is not problematized by Flowers and Turley &
Wodtke is to what extent their findings directly
connect the campus climate of residential halls
and academic outcomes. Concerning specific

research about residential halls as a place for
experiencing campus climate, studies have
found participants who lived in domiciles experienced perceptions of lower racial prejudice
and improved racial attitudes (Sidanius et al.,
2008; Van Laar, Levin, Sinclair, & Sidanius,
2005). Contrarily, racism and racial microaggressions experienced by students of color in
residential halls contribute to negative perceptions of interracial relations and campus
climate (Harwood, Huntt, & Mendenhall,
2010; Johnson, 2003). Interestingly, research
by Lowe et al. (2013) found that based on frequency and context of interactions, "interracial
dining in the university cafeteria is a consistent
predictor of students' more favorable views of
the campus racial climate" (p. 593), which can
counteract negative experiences in resident
halls if cafeterias are housed therein.
Harper et al. (2011), in a study of 52 Black
male resident assistants, found participants
experienced racial stereotypes, microaggressions and being hyper-surveilled by White
supervisors while working in residential halls.
Johnson (2003), when examining residential
hall climate, found that White students had
much more positive perceptions than students
of color. The findings of these studies aid in
problematizing residential hall climates as an
extension of overarching campus racial climates, and perceptions of participants based
on their lived experiences. To this point, when
examining general campus climate, Worthington (2008) found despite racial-ethnic minority status, "perceptions of campus climate were
found to be more positive when participants
tended to deny the existence of racial privilege"
(p. 9). Helm, Sedlacek & Prieto (1998), Gusa
(2010) and Neville et al. (2001) confirm this

THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3

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