Union mural lacks minorities, sparks debate
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, isnt 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 Centers entrance.Like many other CORES members, Nasbah Hill, co-president of NAISO, said the wall should depict the essence of the center.It wasnt right to put it up without contacting representatives from the CORES groups to let us know whats going on, the psychology sophomore said.