The Significance Students Attach to ‘Race’ at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

In the chapter, The Significance Students Attach to ‘Race’ at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rob Pattman argues that the university is not a ‘melting pot’. Students tend to congregate and identify with racialised groups. He reports on a project his students conducted on student identities at Howard College, in which ‘race’ emerged as a key group marker. The student researchers also attached much significance to ‘race’ as displayed in their choice of students to work with in teams as well as their choice of subjects to interview. Usually, they were the same 'race'. Rob focuses on the problems his students encountered researching student ‘racial’ identities. Even though the student groups they identified were racialised, the researchers were reluctant to question them about ‘race’ lest they be seen as racist. Referring to some of his students’ positive experiences in working in ‘racially’ mixed teams, Rob argues for pedagogic approaches that encourage students from different ‘races’ to work together.

Reference:
Pattman, Rob. 'The Significance Students Attach to ‘Race’ at the University of KwaZulu-Natal', in Rob Pattman and Sultan Khan (Eds.), Undressing Durban (Durban: Madiba Press, 2007), pp. 390-404.