MSU students don't have to fly a plane around the world to experience different cultures. Students can access educational or entertaining cultural events and resources throughout the year at two major centers on campus.
"Students get the opportunity to get exposed to cultural issues and to celebrate and understand the heritage of other people," said Murray Edwards, senior coordinator of the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs.
The office opened the Multicultural Center in 1999. Housed at the bottom floor of the Union, the center offers a variety of books, films and publications concerning racial ethnic minorities. Computers also are open for personal or academic use, as well as a study lounge area with couches and tables.
Asian, black, Hispanic and American Indian student organizations affiliated with the Council of Racial Ethnic Students hold meetings in the conference area, as well as run their offices in the center.
As the former representative of the Hapa Asian Pacific Alliance, a group branching off of the Asian Pacific American Student Organization, Jaime Chao said she utilizes the Multicultural Center often.
"It offers space for people to be able to express their ethnic identities and their kinds of attitudes and cultural signifiers that don't usually seem to have a place on the general campus," Chao said.
Another major cultural meeting place on campus is the Delia Koo International Academic Center, located next to Erickson Hall. Commonly referred to simply as the "International Center," the building offers a food court, the Office of Study Abroad, the International Center Library, a bookstore, English tutoring for international students and various international area study centers.
The African, Asian, Canadian, European and Russian and Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Centers offer slide collections, artwork and books.
"They have a lot of research available on economic development in other countries," said Jay Rodman, special programs coordinator for the Office of International Studies and Programs. "They also have a lot of pamphlets or flyers to take home with you."
The Office of International Studies and Programs holds two major events during the school year, International Education Week and the Global Festival. These are campuswide events, drawing thousands of students and other people in the East Lansing community, Rodman said.
