Debate flares after black college students seek a non-white roommate

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

you got the context wrong. and racism doesn't make sense (FYI this isn't racism).

the students aren't saying they refuse a white roommate because a white roommate would be inferior to them.

You are right it doesn't make sense. So if I exclude black people because I don't want to be around them it's not racism as long as I don't think I am superior to them.

That's nonsense gooblde goop

[smilesammich 10,727]

It is racial discrimination and its probably illegal.

California law also prohibits discrimination based on any of the following:

• A person's medical condition or mental or physical disability; or
• Personal characteristics, such as a person's physical appearance or sexual orientation that are not related to the responsibilities of a tenant;⁴⁰ or
• A perception of a person's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability or medical condition, or a perception that a person is associated with another person who may have any of these characteristics.⁴¹

^{PS. There is an exception in the case of roommates for gender only.}

was someone applying to be a roommate that was white and they were turned away? considering this isn't a typical tenant/landlord situation and the current atmosphere at pitzer, i think it would be within their right to choose a minority roommate. jokes about safe spaces aside, i think this is a legitimate concern: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/black-pain-gone-viral-racism-graphic-videos-can-create-ptsd-like-trauma/

[smilesammich 10,727]

You are right it doesn't make sense. So if I exclude black people because I don't want to be around them it's not racism as long as I don't think I am superior to them.

That's nonsense gooblde goop

your "so if" only works if these students only wanted poc as roommates because they 'don't like being around' white people, and that isn't the case.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

This is the way it has been since I was in college, I chose my roommates, I had no overt mention of criteria but amazingly enough all my roommates were lower class 2nd generation Irish kids from Boston, no one questioned my motivations because the only difference was I didn't advertise I only wanted townies as roommates. A dorm room is their home, not sure about you, I prefer to choose who I live with.

Blame the preponderance of communication methods not racism

Did you like The Town as a movie because that's the first thing that came into my mind...

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

was someone applying to be a roommate that was white and they were turned away? considering this isn't a typical tenant/landlord situation and the current atmosphere at pitzer, i think it would be within their right to choose a minority roommate. jokes about safe spaces aside, i think this is a legitimate concern: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/black-pain-gone-viral-racism-graphic-videos-can-create-ptsd-like-trauma/

I can only imagine the outrage you and Marvin would be having if whites advertising white only, because they felt safer around white people.

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

Did you like The Town as a movie because that's the first thing that came into my mind...

Marvin,

Close, think more Good Will Hunting, without the intelligent kid, my former haunts, Charlestown, part of Boston, we were townies, just poor Irish kids, it's a little more upscale now, but both movies are both set in the same section of town

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

was someone applying to be a roommate that was white and they were turned away? considering this isn't a typical tenant/landlord situation and the current atmosphere at pitzer, i think it would be within their right to choose a minority roommate. jokes about safe spaces aside, i think this is a legitimate concern: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/black-pain-gone-viral-racism-graphic-videos-can-create-ptsd-like-trauma/

So you would be cool if whites advertised white only

[Sousuke 1,214]

was someone applying to be a roommate that was white and they were turned away? considering this isn't a typical tenant/landlord situation and the current atmosphere at pitzer, i think it would be within their right to choose a minority roommate. jokes about safe spaces aside, i think this is a legitimate concern: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/black-pain-gone-viral-racism-graphic-videos-can-create-ptsd-like-trauma/

Dangerous road in my opinion. As an example, it might be similar to someone saying they don't want a muslim roommate due to a recent terror attack.

[smilesammich 10,727]

Dangerous road in my opinion. As an example, it might be similar to someone saying they don't want a muslim roommate due to a recent terror attack.

was the terror attack carried out at the school (and by a muslim) and did that attack pose more of a threat or effect the person seeking the non muslim roommate disproportionately?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

was the terror attack carried out at the school (and by a muslim) and did that attack pose more of a threat or effect the person seeking the non muslim roommate disproportionately?

so its ok if I discriminate against all blacks in my county because the commit a overwhelming majority of the Violent crime .

[Sousuke 1,214]

was the terror attack carried out at the school (and by a muslim) and did that attack pose more of a threat or effect the person seeking the non muslim roommate disproportionately?

I'm not finding a news of an attack at this school. Can you link me?

was the terror attack carried out at the school (and by a muslim) and did that attack pose more of a threat or effect the person seeking the non muslim roommate disproportionately?

Regardless, I'm not seeing any of your conditions providing a pass for discrimination.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

The problem may lie in Federal Fair Housing laws. The California case of Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommate.com, 666 F.3d 1216 (9th Cir. 2012) is instructive here, and applicable.

In a nutshell, while it is not a violation of law to discriminate in choosing who may be your roommate (because DUH we can choose whomever we want to live with -- we aren't forced to take the first person who rocks up to look at a room), it is a violation of law to put discriminatory language in an advertisement for a roommate. The only exclusion is for the gender of the roommate.

So if the advertisement said "no whites," that would be a violation of the law. But if the roommates interviewed prospective roommates with the preconceived notion that they did not want to live with white people, that would be fine. Here's a nice little write up of Fair Housing Council: http://www.rhlaw.com/blog/freedom-to-choose-your-roommate/

See also, not putting dumb stuff on the internet.

Edited August 13, 2016 by Killary

[smilesammich 10,727]

so its ok if I discriminate against all blacks in my county because the commit a overwhelming majority of the Violent crime .

you take these crazy leaps, how is holding an erroneous opinion against a race equate to an individual's right to safety. stand your ground is ok but don't dare surround yourself with people of your choosing in your own home.

I'm not finding a news of an attack at this school. Can you link me?

Regardless, I'm not seeing any of your conditions providing a pass for discrimination.

i dont consider it discrimination. it really seems like a non issue. im more concerned that they felt the need to put that out there in the first place. Edited August 13, 2016 by smilesammich

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

The problem may lie in Federal Fair Housing laws. The California case of Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley v. Roommate.com, 666 F.3d 1216 (9th Cir. 2012) is instructive here, and applicable.

In a nutshell, while it is not a violation of law to discriminate in choosing who may be your roommate (because DUH we can choose whomever we want to live with -- we aren't forced to take the first person who rocks up to look at a room), it is a violation of law to put discriminatory language in an advertisement for a roommate. The only exclusion is for the gender of the roommate.

So if the advertisement said "no whites," that would be a violation of the law. But if the roommates interviewed prospective roommates with the preconceived notion that they did not want to live with white people, that would be fine. Here's a nice little write up of Fair Housing Council: http://www.rhlaw.com/blog/freedom-to-choose-your-roommate/

See also, not putting dumb stuff on the internet.

Exactly. I own a garage apt that sits in my driveway. I am very picky about whom I rent to . I look for someone who is single, does not have a lot of visitors, as I don't want a lot of traffic in and out of my house I also don't want a family for occupancy reasons. I understand the law as you explained it. I can discriminate since it's my primary residance, I just can't advertise it.

I did rent to a bi racial gay couple one time, not lesbians because that's cool but honest to God gay men. They were OK but stiffed me on the rent and had to go.

As for my other rental units off site, no I can't discriminate.

[Boiler 45,486]

#BLM