8C
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
KUCAMPUS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Multicultural center will be for all students
By Jenni Carlson Kansan campus editor
Sherwood Thompson has never had a baby. But he said the September opening of the KU Multicultural Resource Center might be as close as he comes. As the chairman of the Multicultural Resource Center
Such a center will defeat its purpose if it becomes a place where minority groups become isolated from the mainstream of campus life. It must be a place where we can learn from eachother. David Amble viacchapellen for student affairs
resource Center Planning Committee, Thompson has been incubating plans for the center for more than four years. When the remodeled Military Science Annex north of Summerfield Hall opens as the Multicultural Resource Center on Sept. 6, it will mark one of the University of Kansas' newest and most important births, Thompson said.
David Ambler vicecancellor for student affairs
"There's only 857,000 words in the English language, and I cannot select the right words to describe how very important the establishment of this center is to KU," Thompson said. The center's history dates
back to the 1980s, when various campus groups considered opening ethnic-specific centers. Thompson said the groups finally united and decided it would be better to commit to one center.
Many minority students quit college
Although Asian-Americans have the nation's lowest college drop-out rate, other minorities have difficulty completing their degrees.
Percent of college undergraduates who receive a bachelor's degree within six years
Native Americans
African- Americans
Hispanic
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, American Council on Education
White non-Hispanic
Asian- Americans
In November 1991, the Cultural Affairs Committee petitioned Student Senate for a multicultural center. By April 1992, plans for the center were in full swing.
David Amber, vice chancellor for student affairs, announced these plans to Senate, saying that a multicultural center would be jointly funded by the department of student affairs and Senate.
In his statement, Ambler said that while the specifics of the center had not been defined, there were some things it should not become.
"Such a center will defeat its purpose if it becomes a place where minority groups become isolated from the mainstream of campus life," Ambler said. "It must be a place where we can learn from each other."
"We must get people to understand that multicultural isn't a euphemism for the term minority," Thompson said.
Now that the renovations are complete and the new equipment is moved in, Thompson and the other members of the planning committee are prepared to see if this task can be accomplished.
The center plans to start drawing the entire KU community together at its grand opening.
Campus and community groups — including religious, housing, ethnic, minority and campus organizations are invited to set up a booth and share information about themselves, said Gloria Flores, associate director of minority affairs.
"We want all students to develop ownership, not just student ethnic organizations," said Julius Williams, cochairman of the center's programing committee. "That's really important."
Those groups as well as individual students will be encouraged to continue their involvement after the grand opening. Flores said students, faculty and staff would compose boards to oversee such things as programming, policy making and searching for outside funding and grants.
The center has space and equipment for lectures, small dialogue groups, panel discussions or video showings. It also has a library and a computer work station.
Knight-Ridder Tribune
"I hope we're not going to be traditional in our education," Flores said.
Education about multicultural issues is not only important for students during their time at KU, Thompson said. In the work force, people must be able to work with those who are different than they are if they hope to keep their jobs.
"If students are willing to enhance their competitiveness and understanding of the diverse world we live in, we have the resources to buff and polish them to be better people," Thompson said. "However, this transcends getting a job."
The center should foster appreciation and respect for multiculturalism which, in turn, will aid in student recruitment and retention, Thompson said.
"We know that we are sitting on a really positive, break-through enterprise," he said. "Students are willing to promote the appreciation, the recognition and acceptance of all groups on campus. That's phenomenal for KU."
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