Thursday, March 28, 2024

Union mural lacks minorities, sparks debate

October 19, 2001
Council of Racial and Ethic Students are protesting the mural located next to the Multicultural Center entrance at the Union. The group says the mural was painted without their consent and does not reflect diversity —

Students heading downstairs to the cafeteria and Multicultural Center in the Union are greeted by a mural of 12 faculty members - only one of whom is a minority.

And the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students, which consists of executive board members from Black Student Alliance, Culturas de las Razas Unidas, Asian Pacific American Student Organization and North American Indian Student Organization, isn’t happy with the display.

The 55-foot mural was painted in April 2001 by Okemos artist Lori Lechler as part of a project to create a theme for the cafeteria, with a different mural on each of four walls.

The mural, however, is adjacent to the Multicultural Center’s entrance.

Like many other CORES members, Nasbah Hill, co-president of NAISO, said the wall should depict the essence of the center.

“It wasn’t right to put it up without contacting representatives from the CORES groups to let us know what’s going on,” the psychology sophomore said.

James Sheppard, director of the Union, told board members he had no plans to repaint the mural at a CORES general meeting Oct. 9.

“The (Multicultural Center) and the cafeteria are two separate areas,” he said.

And Sheppard said the reaction he received was unexpected.

“I was surprised that they were upset about it,” he said. “It never occurred to me that they considered the space a part of it.”

Although Sheppard said he didn’t know how the group felt, Hill said he should have provided the chance for it to paint something to better represent the CORES groups.

“Most people are offended by it because there is no representation of minorities up there,” she said.

Although there are no plans to repaint the mural, Sheppard has offered CORES the use of an adjacent wall on the east side of the cafeteria and one of the display cases.

“I respect their feelings and frustrations about space issues,” he said.

Misty Staunton, co-chairperson of CRU, said she understands the mural may reflect a shortage of minority faculty and staff on campus, but she disagrees with the decision.

“I feel that it doesn’t represent the diversity on campus or within the faculty and staff,” she said. “I feel that this is what’s been happening for years. Nobody wants to talk to CORES about what’s happening in our area.”

Staunton said CORES was under the assumption the wall would be removed to expand the center. And now, she said, there’s not much that can be done to fix the problem.

“But there is something he can do for the rest of the walls that aren’t painted yet,” she said.

Discussion

Share and discuss “Union mural lacks minorities, sparks debate” on social media.