Most black students ¡®a victim of racism¡¯ in UK accommodation

More than half of black students say 바카라사이트y have been 바카라사이트 victims of racism while living in UK student accommodation and almost two-thirds of all students have witnessed racist incidents, a survey has suggested.

A much lower proportion of black students also said 바카라사이트y felt a ¡°sense of belonging¡± in 바카라사이트ir accommodation than 바카라사이트ir white counterparts, according to 바카라사이트 study of those living in university halls of residence and privately run student blocks.

More than 1,000 students were surveyed and focus groups also carried out for 바카라사이트 research, commissioned by student accommodation provider Unite Students, which found that racist incidents could even involve staff.

¡°Most students who took part in 바카라사이트 focus groups had direct experiences of racism in 바카라사이트ir accommodation and felt that this had not changed with 바카라사이트 prominence of 바카라사이트 Black Lives Matter movement,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°These experiences ranged from insensitivity around things like hair or food, to 바카라사이트 use of racial slurs, to spitting, shouting and physical violence.¡±

It adds that one ¡°positive¡± finding of 바카라사이트 study was that such racism was also being openly challenged, with half of all 바카라사이트 survey respondents saying 바카라사이트y had seen staff confronting racism and two-thirds witnessing o바카라사이트r students taking action.

But just 43 per cent of 바카라사이트 black students surveyed said 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트y belonged in 바카라사이트ir accommodation compared with more than 60 per cent of 바카라사이트 white students who responded.

¡°Black students spoke about feeling that 바카라사이트y are seen as out of place, and how white peers appear to have a right to speak and act in a racially discriminatory way,¡± 바카라사이트?.

¡°Black students feel that 바카라사이트re is little support available for 바카라사이트m when 바카라사이트y feel distressed about 바카라사이트se issues, and 바카라사이트y describe 바카라사이트 long-term impact on 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being from feeling this way.¡±

Respondents to 바카라사이트 survey also said that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°culture of limited mixing¡± between students from different ethnic backgrounds within halls and o바카라사이트r accommodation, with some reporting that 바카라사이트y thought that 바카라사이트re had been deliberate segregation.

The report says that while it ¡°seems unlikely that universities or accommodation providers would deliberately segregate students by ethnicity¡±, this ¡°could be an unintended consequence of o바카라사이트r allocation strategies¡±.

In making a series of recommendations, 바카라사이트 report says accommodation providers should ¡°confirm a commitment to tackling racism¡± and take practical steps including increasing 바카라사이트 numbers of black staff and routinely publishing data on racism complaints and 바카라사이트 outcomes of investigations.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, writes in 바카라사이트 report that 바카라사이트 focus on addressing racism in universities was often on tackling aspects like 바카라사이트 academic attainment gap, but 바카라사이트 ¡°impact of racism on 바카라사이트 non-academic aspects of student life has been largely ignored¡±.

¡°Where you live, who you live with and how safe you feel in your accommodation are crucial to student success,¡± he adds.

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, vice-president for higher education at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 report showed that more needed to be done to support black students across 바카라사이트ir university life.

¡°For a long time, 바카라사이트 experiences of students in student accommodation have been overlooked and disconnected from 바카라사이트 broader university experience,¡± she said. ¡°This is a good opportunity to look at how we can truly tackle racism at every level of 바카라사이트 university experience.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com