Located in a quiet corner in the Union basement is a small facility where minority students have an opportunity to study, socialize and hold weekly meetings.
But many students are unaware of the Multicultural Center, which opened in January 1999.
On Wednesday, representatives from the Council of Racial Ethnic Students, or CORES, met with the MSU Board of Trustees in an effort to change that situation by proposing plans for a multicultural center building to be included in the 2020 Vision plan.
2020 Vision, the university’s master plan, was approved by the trustees in December. Administrators have been discussing the plan for more than two years.
During the meeting, five CORES members presented a mission statement expressing their interest in the university designing an on-campus building that could be used to increase minority retention, offer multicultural programming and hold group meetings. They say there is not enough space in the present center and it is in an inconvenient location.
CORES groups include the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, Black Student Alliance, Culturas de las Razas Unidas and the North American Indian Student Organization, which regularly use the facility. Various affiliated groups also use the center to hold meetings.
Before the center opened in the Union, minority students had lobbied for a free-standing building. The bathroomless corner center was opened on a three-year trial basis.
At the time, MSU President M. Peter McPherson said the location was chosen because it was available and in a central location - and because students needed to prove there was a need for the center.
Wednesday, McPherson said the Board of Trustees has agreed to a review of the issue this semester.
“There’s a review agreed to this spring, which will be done, and these folks’ opinions will be sought,” he said. “I look forward to that.”
Bryan Newland, co-president of NAISO and a social relations junior, said he thought the trustees were receptive to the idea of a new multicultural center because of its benefits for all students.
“One of the purposes is to facilitate the programming needs of the organizations we have,” he said. “We have to go all over campus to find places to hold programs.”
But Jeff Kacos, director of Campus Park and Planning, said although the master plan for the 2020 Vision project doesn’t include a multicultural center, it does include a student activity center that would have study areas, computer labs and organization spaces.
“The master plan shows how the campus could grow, but doesn’t define what every building should be,” he said. “It doesn’t preclude a multicultural center to be built, should funding be available.”
Trustee Colleen McNamara said although she is pleased with the student response to the present center, money is the biggest issue in terms of building a new one.
“There will always be people who would be opposed to it no matter how much money there was,” she said. “There’s a lot of different philosophical approaches to it.”
But MSU Trustee Dorothy Gonzales said she has attended activities in the Multicultural Center and noticed a lack of space to accommodate student use.
“I can understand their frustration about wanting more space where there can be activities and education and teaching about multiculturalism in the broadest sense,” she said. “That requires more space where you can facilitate those kinds of workshops at teaching and knowledge.
“I can understand their wanting it to be in a different building where you don’t have to worry about the room, the parking and the availability to host a large gathering.”
And Gonzales said she thinks a new multicultural center would be advantageous for those who utilize the building.
“A multicultural center serves so many facets,” she said. “It’s not just a gathering place, it’s a teaching place where people can come to learn about other individuals. It’s education in the broadest sense.”
Bindi Patel, an international relations and marketing senior and co-president of APASO, said she thinks the meeting helped the Board of Trustees better understand the issue.
“With all of the renovations on campus, I think it’s one of the best chances for them to create the funds and find the location,” she said. “A multicultural center would create an atmosphere of education and culture for all students on campus and a tool to explore diverse and multicultural backgrounds for those who can’t learn that at any other place on campus.”
Romeo Salvani, a telecommunication senior and co-president of APASO, said although he was unsure of the response from the trustees, he thought they were welcoming to the idea.
“Some of the obstacles are finding a location and a source of funding,” he said. “That is something we are doing research on now, and contacting other universities that have a free-standing multicultural center.”
Matt Weingarden, vice chairperson for internal affairs in ASMSU’s Student Assembly, said the undergraduate student government supports the efforts of the groups.
“I think now, there’s a lot of obstacles in the way, but because a free-standing multicultural center is a good idea, it will happen,” Weingarden said. “The administration should understand a multicultural center doesn’t mean segregation - it means education.”
Staff writer Ed Ronco contributed to this report.
Camille Spencer can be reached at spenc105@msu.edu.
