He is Indian and she is Korean. He grew up on curry and she on kim-chi. But these differences do not keep Harkiran Singh and his girlfriend from dating. According to them, it actually makes their relationship stronger.
Though they may face adversity from society and their parents, they say its worth it and it is a great learning experience.
Students say that their own personal views on interracial dating are different from their parents' view on the issue.
"I really don't think of race when I have feelings for someone but I know my parents would not be happy with it if they knew I dated outside of my Indian culture," said Singh, a junior chemistry major whose girlfriend is of Korean descent.
Singh says that dating interracially has its benefits, aside from what his parents may think.
"I think dating outside of my culture is great because I can learn so much about her culture and I can also teach her about my culture. It's a mutual learning experience," said Singh.
Some students feel that living in the United States gives them the advantage of having the freedom to choose their ideal mate without their race being an issue.
"It's a free world, you need to do whatever makes you happy," said Keith Williams, a senior communication major. "Love knows no color."
Michael L. Lichter, assistant professor of sociology, provided evidence from studies, which prove that race plays a major role in initiating and maintaining an interracial relationship.
While he made the point that interracial relationships are quite often successful, and not uncommon in today's society, there are some common problems that every interracial relationship experiences.
"On one hand, race is associated with culture, and cultural differences among couples, even of the same racial background, are likely to result in differences in expectations and frequent miscommunications," said Lichter.
In addition, Lichter said that being in an interracial relationship is a courageous act because it is such a controversial issue and also maintaining that relationship requires much more.
"Initiating an interracial relationship is likely to take a certain amount of courage but sticking with an interracial relationship is likely to require both courage and a thick skin," said Lichter.
Williams said that he believes people who oppose interracial relationships are not justified in any way, and although he has never been in one, he said that race plays no role in whether or not he dates someone.
Many of those currently in interracial relationships say that race did not play into their decision to begin a relationship; rather they value their freedom to choose.
Cara Burns, a sophomore psychology major who is African American, is in a relationship with her boyfriend who is of German descent.
"The relationship is not very different from one with someone of my own race. Although, sometimes cultural differences play a role, what keeps our relationship strong is that I am seriously in love with him," said Burns.
Burns comes from a background that is African-American, Native American, Caucasian, Irish, Scottish and English, and she has been taught to not only embrace her ethnicity, but also to be tolerant of those who do not.
As a child of an interracial marriage, Burns faced prejudice from her own family as a child.
"My mother's parents were racist and she had a really hard time," said Burns. "When I was born, I entered a family that didn't really accept me, until, of course, they came to know me," said Burns.
Upon entering her current relationship, she was well prepared for the conditions that came along with her decision to date her boyfriend.
Although she was pleasantly surprised because most of her boyfriend's family was very accepting, Burns says she can never completely dodge the discrimination, which society places on interracial relationships.
"I have a very high tolerance for people like that," she said. "I know they are ignorant to so much, and it's them who have so much to work on. They simply need to be educated," said Burns.
But Lichter says that a solution to the adversity that interracial couples face is to diversify our generation, and our world population as a whole.
"I had a friend long ago who said that he owed it to the human race to diversify the gene pool by marrying and reproducing with someone whose ancestry was as unlike his own as possible," said Lichter.
"I have found the person I plan to be with for the rest of my life," said Burns. "When you are truly in love, you don't allow others to ruin that, and you don't allow color to hinder it."
