Leaders representing various student groups have plans to initiate a lobbying effort for an expanded Multicultural Center.
After years of frustration with their small facility, located in the basement of the Union, members from groups such as the Council of Progressive Students and the Council of Racial Ethnic Students are looking to create a group lobbying effort by the end of the year, said ASMSU Student Assembly Chair Missy Kushlak.
"We keep getting the runaround from the administration," she said. "It's now coming again to the forefront."
Kushlak said she is hoping to form a diverse group of students who will continue to push for the Multicultural Center after she has graduated in the spring.
The Multicultural Center was created in 1999 and houses offices for student groups such as Black Student Alliance, the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, Culturas de las Razas Unidas and the North American Indigenous Student Organization.
Misty Staunton, a family community services senior and the at-large student liaison to the MSU Board of Trustees, said that during her years on campus, she has not seen much progress with the center.
"It is very frustrating," she said. "You're just on the list of people who want a building, or a bigger building."
Staunton is not involved with any new groups working to lobby for the center and said she wasn't sure that a group made exclusively of students could produce results.
"There was hype for a while, then it drops down again," Staunton said. "If anything was going to happen, it would have to be advised by a faculty member who's going to be here for a long time."
But Robert Huber, APASO representative for ASMSU, said that the students already have proved their interest in expanding the center.
"It's not that the students aren't active enough," the international relations junior said. "It's that you can't beat a dead dog."
Lee June, vice president for Student Affairs and Services, said the center was discussed at a recent meeting of the University Committee on Student Affairs.
"I know what students are asking for," he said, but added that the ultimate decision will be made by the board.
"I'm not without hope," he said.
The group has not scheduled any meetings, but Kushlak said the group hopefully will meet several times before the end of the semester.
