Housing unit near Berkeley challenged for racist list of rules

Nicolle Generaux & Olivia Vergopia | Writers

September 2, 2022

Near the University of California, Berkeley Campus, an off-campus housing unit has allegedly written and enforced racist rules that discriminate against white people. It is referred to as “The Person of Color Theme House” and after a photo leakage of their house rules has received backlash, claiming that they are facilitating racial exclusion. 

According to the list of rules that were leaked, the students that move into the housing unit do so “to be able to avoid white violence and presence.” In addition, if a person living at the unit wishes to bring a guest, they should announce it to the House chat room “if they are white.

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Although the media has been given evidence of these rules, Steven Ross, the cooperative experience manager of the house, states that the house does not have an official policy that excludes white visitors from the house.

According to him, “White people can and do live in POC House, but the focus for POC House is providing a safe and supportive living environment for people of color.”

The University of Berkeley, although not affiliated with this off-campus unit, has decided not to interfere with the house’s policy because it is not their “responsibility” and is not the “role of the campus” to do so. 

In juxtaposition, the University of California, Berkeley, prides itself on being nondiscriminatory and woke in the context of racial and personal identity. Sosie Casteel, currently a freshman at the University, states “Berkeley has been doing a lot to prevent discrimination here and make their campus a safe space.” She also mentions that “the university makes it a goal to prevent discrimination both on the basis of race and gender.”

So, is the university and its students being hypocritical for stating that they are non-discriminatory and promote acceptance, but refuse to interfere with the controversially racist policies of this housing unit? Or is it truly not their responsibility? 

Junior Ethan Ragas comments “I don’t think that Berkeley has done much to prevent discrimination on the campus.“ He adds “If people did that and didn’t allow black people in, it would be a completely different story.” 

In opposition, junior Spencer Davis believes that “the people of the uouse should be in control of who joins their house. I do not think it is Berkeley’s responsibility to interfere.”

Is this university just doing its job or being a bystander of racial segregation? We will let you decide.