Navigating Campus Racial Climates: How Latino Men Find Support Within Identity-Based Student Organizations

This phenomenological study examines how Latino men at 4-year institutions navigate racial microaggressions and hostile campus climates. Findings reveal that students experience exclusion from peers and institutional agents, impacting their academic and emotional well-being. Identity-based student organizations emerged as critical counter-spaces, fostering cultural affirmation, mentorship, and resilience. These findings underscore the need for institutions to cultivate inclusive environments that affirm Latino men’s identities and support their persistence in higher education.