Interracial roommate pairings in dormitories could promote future racial harmony among college students, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Western Ontario and Kentucky’s Berea College.

The long-term survey observed interracial friendships at different stages of the college experience at Berea College to find “patterns of interaction.” A white student who is randomly assigned a black roommate is significantly more likely to have more black friends later in college. On average, third-year students who were white but had been paired with black roommates said 16 percent of their friends were black, while white students with white roommates reported a figure of 5 percent, according to the study.

The “sorting” ­— or self-segregation — that occurs on college campuses from the beginning of school may be attributed to possible misconceptions about interracial friendship compatibility, the study added. Despite such conceptions, though, “randomly assigned roommates are equally likely to become friends regardless of their race.”

Researchers studied students at Berea College who were assigned roommates in an entirely random fashion, without consideration of characteristics such as neatness, sleeping habits or other preferences.

Although the University pairs incoming first-years based in part on these preferences, the University withdrew the option of choosing between McCormick Road and Alderman Road residence areas because of self-segregation concerns, given that international and minority students generally gravitated toward Alderman Road dormitories while a greater proportion of white students chose McCormick Road dormitories in the past.

Some students have noticed changes since the removal of this option three years ago.

“I’ve noticed that each residential area more accurately represents U.Va.’s overall diversity,” said Sharon Zanti, Resident Life’s chair of the McCormick Road Area. “Over time, the stereotypes about the people that live in Alderman, McCormick and Hereford are changing and [will] continue to change.”

To promote harmony among roommates, the University Housing Division requires students to complete a roommate agreement form, said Ory Streeter, an area coordinator for McCormick Road. The primary goal for on-Grounds housing, he said, is to “provide a safe and comfortable environment” for all students, which basically “boils down to respect.”

Resident Life strongly encourages multicultural acceptance and awareness by requiring staff members to facilitate a multicultural program for their residents at least once a semester, Zanti said. The programs may include taking residents to cultural events, inviting faculty or other community members to contribute to a multicultural discussion, picking a news article and hosting a discussion.

“People tend to stick with people that are familiar or have something in common with them,” Zanti said. “People will be exposed to their roommates’ friends, whom they will introduce to people from other backgrounds.”

Third-year College student Emma Buck said she believes interracial pairing of roommates is not the only way to promote friendships among students from diverse backgrounds.

“I personally also met people through classes and other friends,” she said.

Nevertheless, fourth-year College student Russel Fielding said he believes housing assignments and other opportunities offer students a chance to befriend people they would not otherwise encounter.

“It can be easy to fall into cliques — all it takes is an initial interaction that opens up a whole new world,” he said.