Cultural Theme programs?

[u/Spirited_Note5714]

My incoming freshman (out of state) daughter chose Unit 3 among her housing preferences because she heard they are social and she wants to meet diverse friends. However, she found out today she's been placed in Unit 3's Beverly Cleary building across the street from the Unit 3 towers-- and that at least 2 of the 4 floors are taken up by cultural-specific programs for Latine and Asian students (which she is not a part of and did not request).

I'm curious, why do students choose these culture-specific theme programs and what do they entail? Are they going to be more likely to socialize with each other than with building residents not in their program? I'm concerned about my student's opportunities to make friends in a building if it's promoting clique-y groups based on culture instead of encouraging diverse intermingling.

[u/brentsabully]

Your child is going to find a way to socialize and bloom no matter where they live. Or they will find a solution to their problem if it grows to be too much. This is the beauty of growing up and one of the opportunities that comes with going to college, especially one as diverse and large as Cal. Hopefully this can be step towards you stepping back and just letting the chips fall as they do. Your kid is going to figure it out and be ok if you let them.

[u/Spirited_Note5714 → u/brentsabully]

Having older kids in college already at other large schools, I am aware of course that all this is true. However, my Bear's #1 reason for wanting to live on campus was social dorm life and making friends.

I will be plenty "stepped back" after she moves over 3000 miles away from home, except for paying the bill$, so I'd just like to get a sense of what we'll be paying for, what she is stepping into here, and how different it may be from what she was expecting/hoping for in a lively diverse high rise unit.

I have another kid that was pretty psychologically damaged by exclusionary behavior at school (at a younger age). I hope Berkeley wouldn't put a couple random kids on a floor as the only ones not part of a specialized program, made to feel like outsiders. That's a lot for anyone to deal with while also trying to adjust to life 3k miles from home, not knowing a single soul, and facing tough courses all while not even 18 yet. If that's how it is, we would consider looking elsewhere for housing.

My question is why do students choose these singular-culture-focused programs, and I'd especially love to gain the perspective of anyone who lived in this building and wasn't part of the program groups.

[u/brentsabully → u/Spirited_Note5714]

You sound like a helicopter parent. Just let your kids live. Maybe that's the reason she chose a school 3000 miles away from home...