This session discusses results from a qualitative study examining the experiences and isolation of Students of Color and GLBT students at a Great Plains University. Over 61 percent of respondents had experienced prejudice. In addition, students saw  minority  status as both an isolating factor and a source of solidarity

Freng, Scott, M.A.

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Sixth Annual National Conference, POCPWI People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions 
October 2001 
Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, 
Great Plains University 
Scott Freng M.A. 
Doctoral Student, Social Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/pocpwi6 
 Part of the Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons 
Freng, Scott M.A., "Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, Great Plains 
University" (2001). Sixth Annual National Conference, POCPWI . 42. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/pocpwi6/42 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sixth Annual National 
Conference, POCPWI by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a 
Predominantly White, Great Plains University
Abstract
This session discusses results from a qualitative study examining the experiences and 
isolation of Students of Color and GLBT students at a Great Plains University. Over 61 
percent of respondents had experienced prejudice. In addition, students saw "minority" 
status as both an isolating factor and a source of solidarity.
Scott Freng, M.A.
Doctoral Student, Social Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Research examining prejudice and discrimination on university campuses often 
investigates how these experiences influence attrition and persistence (e.g. Cabrera, Nora, 
Terenzini, Pascarella, & Hagedorn, 1999; Nora & Cabrera, 1996; Rice, 1989; Suen, 
1983). Attrition is influenced by various stressors including "adjustment stress, academic 
demands, relational problems and financial worries," but only minority students face the 
additional stress of prejudice (McCormack, 1998, p.379). Experiencing prejudice and 
discrimination creates disincentives for minorities to interact with non-minority faculty, 
staff and students (Cabrera et al., 1999). Investigations of the experience of prejudice and 
discrimination on college campuses has traditionally focused on African Americans' 
experience at predominately white institutions (e.g. Buttny, 1999; Feagin, 1992; Fisher & 
Hartmann, 1995). Within this research, Jones (1991) offers numerous examples of 
prejudice and discrimination against African Americans on university campuses and 
found that four types of racist acts exist on campuses. These types include: slurs and 
verbal taunts, written or pictorial insults (cartoons, posters, flyers), organized protests and 
demonstrations and violent activity (Jones, 1991). In addition, research examining the 
experiences of prejudice on university campuses is often quantitative in nature. The 
purpose of this research was to examine the unique experiences of prejudice and isolation 
from the viewpoint of several "minority" groups, while utilizing qualitative data gathered 
from respondents answers to several structured open-ended questions.
Transcripts from 47 participants were analyzed qualitatively using phenomenology. 
Phenomenology is concerned with the wholeness or complexity of experience, while 
trying to capture an experiences' essence (Moustakas, 1994). Analysis of transcripts 
revealed several themes. These general themes included that students saw faculty and 
other students as the primary sources of prejudice on campus, that prejudice usually took 
the form of slurs/verbal taunts and written/pictorial insults and that "minority" status was 
both a source of isolation and solidarity.
Students saw the main sources of prejudice and racism as faculty and other students. In 
addition, prejudice was perpetuated by not only white or "straight" students, but also by 
other minority students. Of the incidents of prejudice reported by participants, only two 
aspects of Jones' (1991) typology were evident. These were slurs/verbal taunts and 
written/pictorial insults. Approximately 61 percent of the participants reported being the 
target of prejudice while at this university. Many participants did not label certain 
incidents as prejudicial, but rather as due to ignorance and the reliance on stereotypes.
In addition to experiencing prejudice, ignorance and stereotypes, many minority students 
also faced feelings of isolation on a predominantly white university campus. Isolation 
stemmed from being surrounded by students different from themselves and the lack of 
diversity on campus. A sense of isolation was most often reported in classrooms. 
However, outside the classroom, some students felt they gained solidarity from campus 
organizations and groups. Other students saw isolation versus solidarity as a personal 
choice.
Conclusion
Results indicated that students saw faculty and other students as the primary sources of 
prejudice and discrimination at this predominantly white, Great Plains University. These 
experiences were prominently written insults and verbal taunts/ slurs. In addition, 
students saw minority status as both an isolating factor and a source of solidarity. These 
results pointed out the possible difficulty Students of Color and GLBT students face at a 
predominantly white university. Experiencing prejudice, stereotypes, or ignorance was a 
common occurrence and served as an added stress to university life. In addition, many 
students felt isolated and without proper support due to a lack of diversity.
Presenter
Scott Freng is currently a doctoral student in social psychology at the University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln. He received his M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of 
South Dakota in 1998. His current research interests include examining the processes of 
prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and specifically how these issues impact 
Native American populations.


Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, Great Plains University

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Sixth Annual National Conference, POCPWI People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions October 2001 Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, Great Plains University Scott Freng M.A. Doctoral Student, Social Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/pocpwi6  Part of the Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons Freng, Scott M.A., "Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, Great Plains University" (2001). Sixth Annual National Conference, POCPWI . 42. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/pocpwi6/42 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sixth Annual National Conference, POCPWI by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, Great Plains UniversityAbstractThis session discusses results from a qualitative study examining the experiences and isolation of Students of Color and GLBT students at a Great Plains University. Over 61 percent of respondents had experienced prejudice. In addition, students saw "minority" status as both an isolating factor and a source of solidarity.Scott Freng, M.A.Doctoral Student, Social Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Research examining prejudice and discrimination on university campuses often investigates how these experiences influence attrition and persistence (e.g. Cabrera, Nora, Terenzini, Pascarella, & Hagedorn, 1999; Nora & Cabrera, 1996; Rice, 1989; Suen, 1983). Attrition is influenced by various stressors including "adjustment stress, academic demands, relational problems and financial worries," but only minority students face the additional stress of prejudice (McCormack, 1998, p.379). Experiencing prejudice and discrimination creates disincentives for minorities to interact with non-minority faculty, staff and students (Cabrera et al., 1999). Investigations of the experience of prejudice and discrimination on college campuses has traditionally focused on African Americans' experience at predominately white institutions (e.g. Buttny, 1999; Feagin, 1992; Fisher & Hartmann, 1995). Within this research, Jones (1991) offers numerous examples of prejudice and discrimination against African Americans on university campuses and found that four types of racist acts exist on campuses. These types include: slurs and verbal taunts, written or pictorial insults (cartoons, posters, flyers), organized protests and demonstrations and violent activity (Jones, 1991). In addition, research examining the experiences of prejudice on university campuses is often quantitative in nature. The purpose of this research was to examine the unique experiences of prejudice and isolation from the viewpoint of several "minority" groups, while utilizing qualitative data gathered from respondents answers to several structured open-ended questions.Transcripts from 47 participants were analyzed qualitatively using phenomenology. Phenomenology is concerned with the wholeness or complexity of experience, while trying to capture an experiences' essence (Moustakas, 1994). Analysis of transcripts revealed several themes. These general themes included that students saw faculty and other students as the primary sources of prejudice on campus, that prejudice usually took the form of slurs/verbal taunts and written/pictorial insults and that "minority" status was both a source of isolation and solidarity.Students saw the main sources of prejudice and racism as faculty and other students. In addition, prejudice was perpetuated by not only white or "straight" students, but also by other minority students. Of the incidents of prejudice reported by participants, only two aspects of Jones' (1991) typology were evident. These were slurs/verbal taunts and written/pictorial insults. Approximately 61 percent of the participants reported being the target of prejudice while at this university. Many participants did not label certain incidents as prejudicial, but rather as due to ignorance and the reliance on stereotypes.In addition to experiencing prejudice, ignorance and stereotypes, many minority students also faced feelings of isolation on a predominantly white university campus. Isolation stemmed from being surrounded by students different from themselves and the lack of diversity on campus. A sense of isolation was most often reported in classrooms. However, outside the classroom, some students felt they gained solidarity from campus organizations and groups. Other students saw isolation versus solidarity as a personal choice.ConclusionResults indicated that students saw faculty and other students as the primary sources of prejudice and discrimination at this predominantly white, Great Plains University. These experiences were prominently written insults and verbal taunts/ slurs. In addition, students saw minority status as both an isolating factor and a source of solidarity. These results pointed out the possible difficulty Students of Color and GLBT students face at a predominantly white university. Experiencing prejudice, stereotypes, or ignorance was a common occurrence and served as an added stress to university life. In addition, many students felt isolated and without proper support due to a lack of diversity.PresenterScott Freng is currently a doctoral student in social psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He received his M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of South Dakota in 1998. His current research interests include examining the processes of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination and specifically how these issues impact Native American populations.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1043&context=pocpwi6

Experiences of Prejudice and Isolation at a Predominantly White, Great Plains University

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