Diversity in Action: University Apartments as a Case Study for Ethnic Grouping

Photos from Lark Chapel Hill Official Instagram, depicting various South Asian residents. (2022-23)

Note: Not affiliated with Lark Chapel Hill in any way. A special thank you to everyone who completed the survey and helped with this special projects edition.

Data Collected By: Anshu Shah, UNC Monsoon

Data Analysis and Visuals By: Anshu Shah, Trisha Rathod, Rahul Konkimalla

Report Written By: Anshu Shah | January 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Lark is one of the most popular student-living apartment complexes in Chapel Hill, but it holds a particularly special place for UNC’s South Asian American student body. From infamous Halloween parties to quality time visiting friends, many South Asian UNC students have fond memories at Lark, whether they have lived there or not.

In this project, UNC Monsoon sought to understand some of the motivations, trends and details behind the South Asian resident experience at Lark. Drawing on statistics and research about diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek to understand how social identity theory and ethnic grouping works in university apartments. We have presented the data with six Key Findings in the following report.

METHODOLOGY:

A survey was conducted via a Google Form, asking for South Asian Americans at UNC who have previously lived, or currently live, at Lark Chapel Hill Apartment Complex. The survey consisted of eight questions with corresponding response options. Four of the eight questions were required, and the last question allowed respondents to enter their email contact information if they wished to receive survey results in the newsletter. The first five questions were single-selection multiple choice, with the next two being scale ratings, and the last two being short type-in answers. [Refer to Appendix Exhibit 1 for the survey questions.]

To get people to do the survey, online communication and social media were the biggest promotional methods. The survey link was texted, emailed, and sent to various South Asian individuals who were known to live at Lark, sent in the Lark GroupMe group chat, and posted on the Monsoon Instagram. We also used flyers with QR codes and approached Lark residents personally asking them to do the survey.

Respondents were asked to do the survey once. We received 130 total responses, 122 of which were current Lark residents (of the remaining, seven were previous Lark residents and one had never lived at Lark). All 130 responses answered that they were South Asian or South Asian American. Therefore, we believe that this survey comprises a representative sample of the Lark South Asian resident population and will take the data as valid to be used for correlative analysis.

SIX KEY FINDINGS:

The survey yielded the following six key findings and claims, as supported by the data, which will be elaborated on in the “Data Analysis and Conclusions” section:

1. At least 1 in 5 current Lark residents are South Asian American. Asian representation within Lark's resident population surpasses the proportional demographic presence of Asians within UNC's student body.

2. The largest concentration of South Asian residents is on Floor 4, followed closely by Floor 5, and Floor 3 has a large disparity, despite Floors 3–6 having equal resident populations.

3. The biggest motivation to live in Lark is living with friends; South Asians tend to stick together as ethnically homogenous friend groups. Many units tend to have more than 1 South Asian tenant, often the whole unit is South Asian.

4. More than half (51.64%) of current Lark South Asian residents are re-signing their lease, which is higher than the overall Lark re-signing rate (35–40%). But South Asians extremely dislike the increase in rent price for the coming year, leading most to have hesitations when re-signing.

5. Of those re-signing, the majority are on Floor 4 and said their biggest motivation was wanting to live with friends. This motivation may provoke South Asian residents to re-sign and continue staying at Lark.

6. The new visitor lot parking pass system is severely disliked by the majority of current South Asian residents.

DATA ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS:

Key Finding 1.) At least 1 in 5 current Lark residents are South Asian American. So, Asian representation within Lark's resident population surpasses the proportional demographic presence of Asians within UNC's student body.

According to public information about occupancy given by the Lark lobby, there are 608 total bed spaces in the apartment complex. As of Dec. 2023, every bed space was occupied, meaning 608 total current residents. In our survey, we received 130 responses, of which 122 were current Lark residents. All respondents were South Asian. Though this is a representative sample, we do not believe that every single South Asian Lark resident was reached in the survey. Therefore, we know that at least 122 out of the 608 (20.07%) current Lark residents are South Asian—meaning at least 1 in 5 Lark residents. [ Refer to Appendix Exhibit 2 for Lark’s occupancy statistics.]

According to the Fall 2022 UNC OIRA Overview report, 13.9% of undergraduates and 9.3% of postgraduates are Asian. This report had the most recent, university-reported diversity statistics that are publicly available. Assuming that the OIRA’s provided proportion of Asian students at UNC remains roughly consistent in Fall 2023, and knowing that at least 20.07% of Lark's population is South Asian (which hasn’t even included other Asian identities), it is reasonable to assert that Lark's proportion of Asian residents (particularly those of South Asian descent) significantly surpasses the university's proportion of Asian students.

Key Finding 2.) The largest concentration of South Asian residents is on Floor 4, followed closely by Floor 5, and Floor 3 has a large disparity, despite Floors 3–6 having equal resident populations.

Survey data shows that 29.9% of respondents live on Floor 4, 24.8% on Floor 5, 17.9% on Floor 6, 12.8% on Floor 3, 7.7% on Floor 2 and 6.8% on Floor 1.

We took the number of responses per each floor and divided it by the number of overall residents per floor to determine what percent of each floor’s residents are South Asian. In Key Finding 1, we determined that at least 20.07% of Lark residents are South Asian. Floor 4 exceeds that mark with an overrepresentation of South Asians. Floors 5 and 6 are close to the mark, while Floors 1–3 show South Asians are underrepresented in those floors.

According to public data provided by the Lark lobby, Floors 3–6 have an equal number of residents (121 each) and Floors 1 and 2 have a combined total of 124 residents (the specific number was not given for these two floors). The concentration of South Asians is highest in Floor 4. While Floors 4 and 5 are roughly similar and Floor 6 lags by a little bit, Floor 3 has a large difference.

Key Finding 3.) The biggest motivation to live in Lark is living with friends; South Asians tend to stick together as ethnically homogenous friend groups. Many units tend to have more than 1 South Asian tenant, often the whole unit is South Asian.

42.3% of survey respondents voted that their biggest motivation to live at Lark was wanting to live with friends. The second highest count (26.9%) was for the convenient location.

In this question, respondents were also given the opportunity of “Other” where they could write in their own answer if it wasn’t reflected in the options. Six respondents chose this to write that their biggest motivation was having their own bathroom. One respondent wrote that their biggest motivation was to “escape [their] alcohol violation.”

Through personal observation and talking with other South Asian residents, I have noticed that it is not uncommon for these apartment units to have more than one South Asian tenant. Many South Asian tenants tend to stick with other South Asian roommates, leading many units to be entirely made up of South Asian roommates.

Key Finding 4.) More than half (51.64%) of current Lark South Asian residents are re-signing their lease, which is higher than the overall Lark re-signing rate (35–40%). But South Asians extremely dislike the increase in rent price for the coming year, leading most to have hesitations when re-signing.

Of the total survey respondents, 11.5% are re-signing their current lease with eagerness and 36.9% are re-signing with some hesitations. This gives a total of 48.4% of total survey respondents re-signing their current lease—but this percentage is skewed because it includes seven responses that are not current Lark residents (refer to Figure 2 to see how many respondents are current residents vs. are not current). When the data about re-signing is filtered to only account the 122 current Lark residents’ responses, then we see that 63 of those 122 are re-signing their current lease, giving a 51.64% re-signing rate.

According to public data given by the front lobby, 35–40% of current 2023–2024 residents resigned their lease for the upcoming 2024–2025 year. Our survey data shows that South Asians residents have a higher re-signing rate than overall residents for the upcoming year.

However, well over half of the current South Asians who are re-signing (48 of the 63 re-signers) said they had hesitations and did not find a better alternative living situation. In another question, respondents were asked their views on Lark’s increase in rent for the upcoming year, and they severely dislike it. When asked to rate the rent increase from 1 to 5 (1 being very negative and 5 being very positive), 57 respondents (62%) put a 1 while only three respondents put a 5 (3.3%). Of the re-signers with hesitations, the majority of them put a 1 or 2 for their sentiment on the rent increase scale question. Therefore, the increased rent could be a major reason for the re-signers’ hesitations.

Of those 11 respondents who currently live here and said "Affordable rent price" was their biggest motivation to live at Lark in Question 4 (which is 9.02% of current South Asian residents), only one said they were happy to resign with no hesitation. Of the remaining 10, one is graduating, five found better places to live next year, and four had hesitations for re-signing.

On Sept. 12, 2023, current residents were sent an email with renewal offers and announcements. The rent increases were presented in residents’ renewal offers, some seeing upwards of $100 per month being added to the amount they’re paying right now. The email also announced that certain residents will see new monthly “premiums” being added to their leases—an extra $15 per month premium for those with amenity views and another $20 per month premium for those with top-floor units.

When asked why rent is being increased for the upcoming year and about the newly added “premium” fees, Lark management declined making any public comments.

Key Finding 5.) Of those re-signing, the majority are on Floor 4 and said their biggest motivation was wanting to live with friends. This motivation may provoke South Asian residents to re-sign and continue staying at Lark.

Floor 4 has the highest number of people resigning but also has the highest number of people who completed the survey. 67.65% of Floor 4 South Asians who currently live in Lark and filled out the form are re-signing. Floor 5 and 3 are a close second and third with 62.07% and 60% re-signing, respectively. Wanting to live with friends is overwhelmingly the biggest motivation to live at Lark, followed by wanting the convenience of the location, regardless of floor.

For the coming year, when the current re-signers stay and the non-re-signers leave, and assuming the incoming batch of new South Asian residents spreads almost evenly among the floors, we can predict that Floor 4 will keep its status of having the highest concentration of South Asians next year. Most of Floor 2’s current South Asians are leaving, and this Floor didn’t have many current South Asians this year, so if we keep the same assumption of the incoming new South Asian residents being evenly spread, then we can predict that Floor 2 will have the lowest concentration of South Asians next year.

Key Finding 6: The new visitor lot parking pass system is severely disliked by the majority of current South Asian residents.

On Oct. 24, 2023, current Lark residents received an email that permit passes for parking in the visitor lot will be managed by a new online-only system called “ParkStash,” rather than the previous physical paper passes.

ParkStash does not allow residents to book visitor spots in advance and has a feature for payments. Thus, Residents have reported having trouble getting spots when they need them due to finding out at the last minute that the visitor lot is full. ParkStash also charges money for spots after residents use the five free spots allotted to them each month, allowing them to pay for spots per hour or per day.

“It’s so annoying and hard to get spots,” said one South Asian Lark resident. “I think they did it to make money with the payment thing in the system because they don’t want people parking there without a pass.”

In the survey, current South Asian residents were asked to rate their sentiment on ParkStash on a scale. The results were overwhelmingly negative. Well over half (69.8%) of current South Asian residents put either a 1 (very negative) or 2 (negative).

When asked why the new ParkStash system was implemented, Lark management declined making any public comments.

When asked to respond to residents’ severe dislike and complaints for ParkStash and whether the visitor lot permit system will be reverted back to the paper passes, Lark management declined making any public comments.

DISCUSSION:

The ethnic grouping of South Asians at Lark is caused by a variety of reasons and conditions, most predominantly being wanting to live with friends at a good location.

Many South Asians often have South Asian-dominant friend groups before starting college and keep consistent that habit, though this is not a universal experience for all. In-state South Asians from large feeder cities for Carolina, like Charlotte or Cary, N.C., usually come into college knowing or having befriended other South Asians in their network. Out-of-state South Asian students may form into their own friends groups or merge into these pre-established in-state friend groups. This trend is enhanced by the pipeline of first-year dorm roommate pairings, like in Hinton James, often evolving into off-campus apartment roommate pairings, like moving into Lark.

“Word-of-mouth is powerful within the South Asian community,” said one South Asian American UNC senior. “Everyone starts out not knowing each other, then through mutual friends, they meet and become friends. Everyone starts out on different corners of campus in freshman year, like HOJO and other dorms, then slowly everyone moves into Lark in their upperclassmen years.”

“Lotta friend groups are focused here,” said one survey respondent in the seventh short answer question of the survey asking for their thoughts on why so many South Asian students like at Lark. [Refer to Appendix Exhibit 3 for the full list of responses to this short answer question.]

“Word of mouth and comfort in familiarity!” answered another respondent.

“The brown population at lark means you’ll know a lot of people that live here,” said a different respondent.

“Cause everyone and their twice-removed cousin lives here and I suppose people like to be close to people they know,” said one more.

South Asian students’ parents' income is another factor allowing many of them to afford living in Lark. A 2022 study by the Statista Research Department showed that Asian Americans’ median household income was $108,700—considerably higher than the national median household income of $74,580 for all races/ethnicities. Certain South Asian groups, especially Indian Americans, make even more than the Asian American median. Education is also highly valued in many South Asian cultures, so many parents try hard to make sure their children do well in college. The combination of South Asian parents wanting to ensure the best living conditions for their children’s college education and being able to afford Lark supplements the ethnic grouping of Lark’s’ South Asians.

“Rich,” answered one survey respondent.

“Parental income/high SES,” said another.

“Many South Asians come from wealthy families (second-generation wealth) and are able to afford the high rent,” said a different respondent.

“A lot of south asian students want to live with their friends that also tend to be south asian so they all just sign together. Also south asian parents I feel like really prioritize their child’s comfort and just want them to be able to do their best in school if that means having their own room and kitchen, and are willing to pay for that,” said one more.

But not everyone has the same view of the rent price, which is also reflected in Figure 8 surveying views on the rent price increase. Some residents see the rent price as “affordable” or “cheap,” while others view it as “premium” or more expensive.

“Idk it’s cheaper than everything else that’s close to campus and we all cheap as hell,” said a respondent.

“The rent is very affordable and location is convenient,” said another respondent.

“I think Lark is a concentration of South Asian students who are privileged enough to not only afford a quality higher level education but also privileged enough to afford to spend a relatively high amount of money on collegiate living!,” said a different respondent.

“It is probably a combination of factors such as our parents’ average income, parents wanting us to live in an apt rather than a house for safety purposes, and network of friends from the same background which influences more of us to come for the dorm-like sense of community,” said one more respondent.

On-campus dorm housing is very close to campus and is considerably cheaper than Lark rent, but lacks the South Asian community that many look for when wanting to live with friends along with mixed views on dorm life in general. Many off-campus apartments, like Stratford or Chapel Ridge, are also cheaper than Lark, but they are farther from campus and lack some of Lark’s provided amenities. So it is clear that Lark is the optimal option for many students who can afford it because it is still at a reasonable location and has the friends and community they are looking for.

“Because people like to jump on the bandwagon and it’s in between too cheap and too expensive so it’s economical,” said another respondent.

The motivation of wanting to live with friends reflects a groupthink approach with the risk of ignoring individual preferences. Residents’ friends who might not want to live at Lark due to rent prices or wanting to live elsewhere might hesitate to express disapproval to living at Lark because they fear losing their friends.

“South Asian people are only friends with each other, and it's hella toxic,” said another survey respondent.

The trend seems to have been multi-generational or at least known to be a prime resident spot for South Asians in previous years. Word-of-mouth has made Lark the hotspot for South Asian residents for longer than just the past couple years alone.

“No idea but I noticed it’s a thing, and I think it’s because a lot of people have had siblings that have lived there as well, when it was called ‘Lux,’” said one respondent.

“Tradition,” said another.

“I think its because there is a precedence of a lot of South Asian people living there in the past so people just keep it going,” said one more.

The ethnic grouping of South Asians at Lark is dependent on the decisions of individuals’ friends, who are influenced by a select few of their own friends as well. Though we should celebrate the creation of Lark as a South Asian cultural safe space, we should be wary of its domino effects. The question naturally rises: What would happen if a select few South Asians started leaving Lark and fewer of the residents' friends lived here? Would that cause less and less South Asians to live at Lark—or a gradual migration to a different apartment complex?

“It seems that South Asian students at UNC most often tend to have friends who are also South Asian, so once South Asian students took an interest in Lark and started moving here, their friends followed, and their friends followed, and so on,” said another survey respondent.

Nevertheless, the answer is complicated and layered. Further research may be required. In the meantime, we can only revel in (or hide from) the community we’ve created.

As one respondent said, “Gang knows gang.”

APPENDIX:

Exhibit 1: Survey Questions

1. Are you South Asian, South Asian American, or come from a South Asian family/background/heritage? * [Required to answer]

   • Yes

   • No

2. Do you live in Lark Chapel Hill apartment complex? * [Required to answer]

   • Yes, I currently live here

   • No, BUT I used to live here

   • No, I have never lived in Lark

3. What floor of Lark do you live on? (Answer only if you CURRENTLY LIVE HERE)

   • Floor 1

   • Floor 2

   • Floor 3

   • Floor 4

   • Floor 5

   • Floor 6

4. What was your biggest motivation to live at Lark? * [Required to answer]

   • Want to live with friends

   • Affordable rent price

   • Convenient location

   • Good amenities (parking, pool, shuttle bus, etc)

   • Diversity of residents

   • Other: ________

5. Are you re-signing your lease or planning to live at Lark for the 2024–25 year? * [Required to answer]

   • Yes, and I was happy to do so!

   • Yes, but I had hesitations or could not find a better alternative.

   • No, I have a better place to live next year.

   • No, I am graduating.

   • No, I didn’t have a current lease to re-sign.

6. If re-signing for next year, how do you feel about Lark’s increase in rent? [Answer on a scale]

   • 1 (It’s ridiculous! Way too expensive.)

   • 2

   • 3

   • 4

   • 5 (It’s fine. I don’t mind.)

7. If you currently live in Lark, how do you feel about the new visitor parking lot system with ParkStash that was recently instituted in Oct. 2023? [Answer on a scale]

   • 1 (It’s terrible!)

   • 2

   • 3

   • 4

   • 5 (It’s good!)

8. What are your thoughts on why so many South Asian students live at Lark (Just a sentence or two is good)? Any other comments/concerns? [Short type-in answer]

   _________________________

9. If you would like to see the data results and read the article, write your email here so we can send you our newsletter! [Short type-in answer]

_________________________

Exhibit 2: Lark Occupancy Statistics

According to public data about Lark found online and provided by the front desk, there are 608 total bed spaces in the apartment complex in combinations of 1–4 bedroom units. There are 24 units with single-occupancy 1 bedroom, 40 units with 2 bedrooms, 16 units with 3 bedrooms and 112 units with 4 bedrooms. 

The 608 residents are split by floor. Floors 1 and 2 have a combined total of 124 residents—not split evenly between the two floors. Floors 3–6 have 121 residents on each.

As of the current overall 2023–2024 Lark residents, 35–40% have re-signed their lease for the upcoming 2024–2025 year.

Exhibit 3: Full list of responses to Question 7.

In the survey, respondents were asked the optional, anonymous question, “What are your thoughts on why so many South Asian students live at Lark (Just a sentence or two is good)? Any other comments/concerns?” Here is the full list of the 82 responses received from that question in their original, unaltered form. Some are quite humorous.

1. idk honestly

2. I think its because there is a precedence of a lot of South Asian people living there in the past so people just keep it going.

3. Because of the shuttle. Most south Asian students don’t have cars and parents care a lot about security

4. To live with their friends

5. All your friends live in the same place

6. I don’t mind it but I want to know what attracts so many South Asian students to Lark.

7. A lot of people in common and best price

8. I think everyone thinks their friends will live here so a lot of people decide to.

9. Lotta friend groups are focused here

10. Cause everyone and their twice-removed cousin lives here and I suppose people like to be close to people they know

11. it is probably a combination of factors such as our parents’ average income, parents wanting us to live in an apt rather than a house for safety purposes, and network of friends from the same background which influences more of us to come for the dorm-like sense of community

12. Maybe the affordable price attracted a similar group of people

13. I really think most people live here due to the affordable price and convenient location. I also think UNC has a large population of south asian individuals so lark having so many makes sense statistically

14. One of the cheapest premium apartments

15. I feel like it’s a good mix between the social aspects and how it used to be affordable for a lot of people!

16. Nice apartment and most affordable compared to union c-square warehouse and shortbread

17. Cheaper than most places

18. I think it’s a convenient option so a lot of South Asian students gravitate towards it.

19. I think they want to live with others from similar backgrounds that share similar interests as them.

20. all the asians seem to want asian roommates so everyone gets roped in - it’s also easier to get parents to agree to pay (if that’s how they’re paying rent) if the roommates are “raised the same way” aka are all asians

21. It’s just close to campus

22. South Asian people are only friends with each other, and it's hella toxic

23. Friends

24. social life

25. Gang knows gang

26. It is what it is can’t change anything about it personally.

27. It’s super convenient compared to other apartments on campus and finding a house is hard!

28. Word of mouth and comfort in familiarity!

29. I think the community is probably the biggest factor. When all your friends live at Lark you want to too.

30. I think it’s safe

31. i think sorta just a herd mentality like once you hear about one group of friends living there you’re more likely to be interested as well

32. It’s one of the cleaner safer and nicer living options in chapel hill and rent is kinda bad but realistically prices are high everywhere.

33. Because people like to jump on the bandwagon and it’s in between too cheap and too expensive so it’s economical

34. Convenience bus wise and other amenities, easier to live with friends

35. It is one of the cheapest places to live off-campus for students and the shuttle makes it convenient to get to and from campus.

36. the convenience , other friends live here already, shuttle

37. Its a cheaper option with nice amenities, and if something is cheaper than other crappy options, South Asians will flock towards that one option.

38. Prolly cuz everyone else is staying there.

39. Parents probably think a fully furnished apartment is convenient and a steady bus schedule also helps.

40. How many south asian students already live here

41. Series of Dominoes. Friends to want to live w friends

42. It seems that South Asian students at UNC most often tend to have friends who are also South Asian, so once South Asian students took an interest in Lark and started moving here, their friends followed, and their friends followed, and so on.

43. Most affordable and you get the most out of your rent.

44. The rent is very affordable and location is convenient.

45. Cause there’s already so many here why not add some more

46. I think people tend to gravitate to where their friends are, and a lot of South Asian people are friends with each other. Also, it walks to line of being semi-affordable and safe which is appealing to many brown parents.

47. Rich

48. Convenience, competitive pricing compared to nearby apartments, relatively nice

49. everyone has lived in that area for years

50. Many South Asians come from wealthy families (second-generation wealth) and are able to afford the high rent.

51. None

52. it's nice to live in a place being surrounded by people of the same culture

53. The apartment layout - having your own bathroom and room. Also living with friends and access to the shuttle.

54. I am indian and my roommates are Indian and my girlfriend is Indian, she lives here too so its chill

55. I think it just happened and then everyone wanted to be with each others friends

56. maybe because other brown people live here too lol

57. Convenient and cheaper (at least used to be) to other apartments, shuttle around campus, and furnished.

58. It’s a safe place and Indian parents mostly pay for children’s rent

59. idk it’s cheaper than everything else that’s close to campus and we all cheap as hell

60. Price compared to others and friend groups

61. Location and because other south Asians live here

62. pretty good bang for your buck

63. Everyone’s interconnected so we usually just conglomerate

64. I think Lark is a concentration of South Asian students who are privileged enough to not only afford a quality higher level education but also privileged enough to afford to spend a relatively high amount of money on collegiate living!

65. convenient location, prob affordable for most, easy for social interaction since a lot of south Asians do live here

66. I think because it’s dependable and due to the proximity to campus. If not for the shuttle and location, I would definitely not re-sign.

67. No idea but I noticed it’s a thing, and I think it’s because a lot of people have had siblings that have lived there as well, when it was called “Lux”

68. Maybe because there aren’t many apartment complexs for people near campus

69. the brown population at lark means you’ll know a lot of people that live here

70. It’s a good community for them

71. People get drawn to lark because a lot of their friends are living there.

72. Tradition

73. so many

74. Brown town

75. It’s a convenient location with ok amenities

76. Dude I wish I knew

77. parental income/high SES

78. I have no clue, it's pretty over priced and doesn't seem big either.

79. It's like community, friends, and convenient for parties and socializing. I feel like I belong at Lark.

80. There is an infinite amount of brown people and it was pretty affordable

81. It’s convenient and not the most expensive and people can live close to their friends

82. A lot of south asian students want to live with their friends that also tend to be south asian so they all just sign together. Also south asian parents I feel like really prioritize their child’s comfort and just want them to be able to do their best in school if that means having their own room and kitchen, and are willing to pay for that.