Student union eyed for cultural center location
Ethnic and cultural clubs may have a new meeting location if the proposed plan for a multicultural center is approved, said Associate Vice President of Diversity Jesus Trevino.
The center would provide office space for multicultural groups, along with rooms to conduct meetings.
Trevino said the Temporary Student Center near North Complex has been eyed for a location for the center.
“We want to create something students see themselves as part of,” Trevino said.
Beyond racial groups, the culture center would also extend to women, international students, LGBT, veteran and other student organizations.
Trevino, along with Dean of Students Kim Grieve, is creating a proposal for the center to be passed onto President James Abbott for approval.
Jordan Catlett, president of Tiospaye, said communicating with other student groups is beneficial for recruitment and support, but a forced move into the new multicultural center would push the group out of its current office space in the Native American Cultural Center.
“There are pros and cons for us,”he said.
Catlett said Tiospaye originally heard the NACC would be moved to the multicultural center, but now only Tiospaye will be moved.
“We were being kicked out of our own home,” Catlett said. “It’s where the community finds us.”
Catlett is unsure if Tiospaye will be able to continue selling tacos at the NACC, or if the sales will have to be made in the new center. She’s also unsure if the lumber stored in the basement of the NACC for the group’s Dakota Days float will have to be moved.
After the center has been given approval, a student forum will be held as early as this spring to discuss the possibilities for the center and a budget will be set for the possible renovation of the old union.
The name of the center will be discussed at the forum, where Trevino hopes to contain aspects of diversity and inclusiveness.
“The university is serious about starting the center,” Trevino said. “Everyone agrees something needs to be done as soon as possible.”
Trevino said the center would be different from those at other universities, because a condition of moving into the center would be that the groups must collaborate with one another.
“It will give majority students the chance to interact with minorities,” Trevino said. “It’s something that invites the entire community to come and participate.”
Even though the center would be in an existing building, Trevino said it is the point of the center, and not the building, that’s important.
“This isn’t brand new, but at this point, we need to make the vision come alive,” Trevino said.
The large, open space at the center of the building would serve as a communal lounge, with a possible University Brew location.
Trevino said he has yet to speak to student organizations about the possibility of moving into the center.
He said he hopes the center gives students who are not a minority the chance to interact with other groups and improve their leadership skills.
Sophomore Jen Allen does not belong to a multicultural club on campus, but supports the idea of the center because it would give her the opportunity to see the diversity on campus.
“It would be one place, and you’d go and they’d all be there,” Allen said. “I definitely think it’s a good idea because when these clubs meet, there’s not a lot of interaction between them.”
