University of Washington in Seattle offers a special resident hall exclusively for black students starting this fall. The University insists that this is not segregation.
“Black Affinity Housing provides a unique living experience for students seeking connection through celebrating Black culture and scholarship,” the university says.
The segregated housing is in partnership with the publicly funded Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, Black Student Union, and ASUW Black Student Commission. Washington and U.S. taxpayers underwrite this resegregation project.
The housing will provide space to “promote personal wellness, social connectedness, and academic success centering the Black student experience.”
The goals of the housing segregation experience, according to the university are also to:
- Build a community to enhance the sense of belonging and affinity to UW
- Champion respect for Black culture, identity, and history
- Cultivate open and honest conversations surrounding individual and shared experiences
- Celebrate the rich and vibrant Black culture worldwide
- Promote self-growth and potential through opportunities for academic achievement, civic engagement and career preparedness both in and outside the university community
- Create lifelong friendships and a meaningful network of likeminded individuals
Black Affinity Housing will be located on the 8th floor of Lander Hall on West Campus. The floor accommodates 125 students through single, double, and triple rooms.
Alaska students attend medical school at UW through the WWAMI program, a multi-state medical education program for Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Some 20 Alaska students are accepted each year.
