COMMENTARY
Multicultural Center would further diversity on campus
By Frank Geltner
Several individuals have put
a great amount of energy
into the idea of a multicul
tural center on the University
campus. Had the Emerald done
its research, it would have found
that the intentions of the stu
dents and other friends of a mul
ticultural center in working for
such a center were quite differ
ent than implied in the Emer
ald's editorial April 13.
In another issue (April 9) of
the Emerald, a story about the
center said, "The center would
serve as a central location for
minority students to come
together.” The story also quoted
ASUO multicultural advocate
Diana Collins Puente os saying
"With the changes in the demo
graphics of the world, it's impor
tant to create an environment
where students of color have a
place where they feel comfort
able." If. on the the other hand,
the reporter had simply printed
the wording of the ballot mea
sure. another story would have
surfaced.
The wording of the measure is
as follows: “Shall the students
pay a one-time fee of $2.45 per
student per term ($3.67 per
semester for law students) for
one year, generating approxi
mately $109,025 for remodeling
and start-up costs to establish a
multicultural center for the Uni
versity Community that would
bring together students, admin
istrators, faculty, staff, graduate
teaching fellows and communi
ty members to enhance the aca
demic. cultural and residential
experiences of students while
incorporating the educational
vision of exploring th complex
ities of cultural and ethnic
diversity.”
As first articulated in Eric;
Ward's abstract, the Multicultur
al Center would bo "a spuce that
contributes substantially to the
overall well-being of students of
color at the University of Ore
gon.
"Secondly, this spat e should
encompass the educational
vision of exploring complexities
of cultural and ethnic diversity
in the United States ... The Mul
ticultural Center is a clear
opportunity to expand the dis
cussion of race, culture, ethnic
ity and multiculturalism and
further the academic success for
students of color."
Had the Emerald inquired, it
would have been given a copy of
Ward's four-page abstract out
lining his original vision of a
multicultural center.
The Emerald’s editorial noted
that "there are already a number
of places, both in the EMU and
throughout the campus, where
students of any ethnicity can
congregate." It is for that reason
that the Multu ultural Center
proposed does not purport to
serve as a "student bunker "
Regarding the references to
"another isolated room in the
dungeons of the EMU." had the
Emerald done some homework,
it would have discovered that a
p.irt of the cost associated with
this ballot measure includes
structural changes that would
bring more daylight into the
space, including a new entrance
sharing the lobby with Foot
notes and interior wall remodel
ing with glass blocks to bring
daylight from Footnotes into the
Multicultural Center
Contrary to the impression
that the Multicultural Center
would "serve only to further iso
late students from eat h other.”
as conceived, the center would
have to be a very inviting place
for all menihers of the Universi
ty academic community. It
would have library space, class
room space, audio-visual capac
ities and a lounge As con
ceived. it would have a stuff that
Contrary to tho impression that the Multicultural Center would
1serve only to further Isolate students from each other/ as
conceived, the center would have to be a very inviting place
for all members of the University academic community.
was committed to embrac ing
multiculturalism with all of its
existing c.ontradii lions
Using a discussion prepared
by LeNorman ) Strong, director
of the Marvin Center at (ieorge
Washington University, here is a
discussion of a multicultural
organization.
A multicultural organization
is one that is genuinely commit
ted to diverse representation of
its manitxirship. is sensitive to
maintaining an open, supportive
and responsive environment; is
working toward unci purposeful
ly including elements of diverse
cultures in its ongoing opera
tions; and is authentic in its
response to issues confronting
it.
The key words and phrases in
this definition are "genuinely,"
"purposefully " and "authentic
ill its response to issues con
fronting it ” "Genuinely" means
in its actions as well as its
words "Purposefully” means
that institutional polo tes and
practices are c arefully and judi
ciously monitored in relation to
the goals of multiculturalism.
And to be "authentic in its
responses to issues confronting
it." an institution must lie c om
mittod to c hanging polic tes and
practices that limit or prevent
multiculturalism.
As in the case of the current
debate on campus regarding the
motion to revise the race, gender
and non-huropeatt requirement,
understanding con temporary
race relations in the United
States and how gender, race,
ethnicity and/or color shape
experiences is very important.
In [wiri, n multicultural canter
on the University campus would
begin to help this institution
i hange its polii ies and prac
tices, As slated in Ward’s
abstract, the Multicultural ('en
ter is a clear opportunity to
expand the discussion on race,
culture, ethnicity and inn It it til
turalism and further the m ade
mu sin i ess for students of col
or.
One of the insidious aspects
of the Emerald's editorial is its
harmful hut enticing notion that
the student unions should "find
a wav to use (their incidental
fee) money to make their cul
tures accessible to students in
general " Why does the Emerald
believe this7 Because it just
doesn't get it.
To have its way. the Emerald
would plat e the entire responsi
bility on the shoulder of those
(who have exponent ed the gen
oral intolerance in our general
society) who would take (in the
words of the Emerald editorial)
"a little initiative”. those who
would have "a genuine desire to
foster true rnultii ultunilism " As
if those who don't have a gen
uine desire would |ust line up to
he convini ed Isn't the discov
ery of multiculturalism a two
way responsibility7 In a multi
cultural society, or a six iety
aspiring to trecome multicultur
al. shouldn't the "majority" he
responsible for active learning
atioul minority cultures7 It must
not always he the minority cul
tures that must reach out to
teach the majority.
That the leading student
newspaper at the University
would buy Into the ridiculous
argument that minority students
are responsible for promoting
multiculturalism is unforgivable
and refine ts the misunderstand
ing that permeates the entire
debate
We should expect the Emer
ald to uc< ept some responsibili
ty for finding its place in this
multir ultural equation It is not
by believing, as it does, that the
responsibility for creating a mul
ticultural center rests with the
ethnic student unions In a trulv
multicultural sn< ietv . there
would be no need for a multi
cultural center However, we are
not a multicultural society when
daily examples of our differ
ences weigh like clubs on our
heads
I'o expand its hyperbole even
further, the Emerald would have
a handful of minority students,
"instead of spending money on
catered parties, karaoke sing
alongs or renting ballrooms at
the Kugene Hilton." spend their
student fees "here on campus
and • reate a true multicultural
i enter that would encompass
the entire University" We
should reject this argument
liec ause it is base in its premise
ami spurious in its foe us
University students should
rujoct the Emerald'* argument
and fully support the Multicul
tural Center proposed Help to
shape and give meaning to the
sim iety you are creating for your
children.
frank Gtillner is the associate
director of the EMI I.
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