| Building a diversity dream, part 2 |
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| Written by Jessica Mullins -Argonaut | ||||||
| Tuesday, 07 March 2006 | ||||||
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Though plans for a Student Diversity Center are still being worked out,
two diversity groups already enjoy their own space on campus. This year the University of Idaho opened the Native American/Migrant Education Center, home to the College Assistance Migrant Program and the Native Center. The center is the first freestanding cultural building on campus. About 35 new students of Hispanic background are recruited every year through CAMP, which targets migrant/seasonal farm workers and children of migrant farm workers. The Native Center currently has no staff. Yolanda Bisbee, CAMP director, is the person UI administrators point to as the American Indian recruiter, and only about 1.2 percent of undergraduate students declared themselves as “American Indian/Alaskan Native.” But despite the lack of permanent staff and low number of students, the center has helped several American Indian students. Research professor Ed Galindo is one of the advisers for the Native American Student Association. He said the center has helped the students socially and academically. “It has been a tremendous gathering place,” Galindo said. “It is a place where students can give each other support and come to work on things.” The center had donated computers for the students to use. Galindo said he was told the computers are used all the time. There are always snacks and refreshments available to the students, Galindo said. “It is becoming more than a center. We are trying to get a home feel here, which is equally as important as academic support,” Galindo said. He said the center is somewhere people are welcome. Students can eat and find a kind ear to hear about things.  Centers are not strictly academic, he said. They are good social boosters. Galindo said he likes the idea of a Student Diversity Center on campus as long as the groups can be distinct but not separate. “It isn’t like a blending pot where you throw a chunk of meat, lettuce and a carrot and mix it all up,” Galindo said. “I like to think of it as a salad bowl, you put them in there and they still are all good. The lettuce and the carrot know each other and they are still contributing to the whole.” Having the groups together would be no problem at all if each group keeps its distinct richness, Galindo said. “I think (the Student Diversity Center) wants to enable the uniqueness and bring folks together, and I’m all for that idea,” he said. The integration of the multicultural groups reminds Galindo of a rainbow, he said. “I still want to be able to see the each of the blue, red and yellow colors,” he said. “That is how I see the world, which is kind of crazy and wild but that is just me.” Graduate student Julian Matthews started the Native American Graduate Student Association this year. A NAGSA office was set up in the Native Center, but Matthews has difficulty using it because he works during the day and takes classes at night. The native center is a good place for undergraduate students who are far from home, Matthews said. “I think it is good they are pushing for a (student center),” Matthews said. “(The Office of Multicultural Affairs) is more like an administrative office. It is not as much of a place where students can go study and hang out.” It would be beneficial to have all the minorities together in one center, Matthews said. “It would help the students learn about different groups,” he said. “It is definitely a good idea to help awareness and knowledge of different groups that are here.” Unity, made up of representatives from all 21 diversity groups under OMA, would like the CAMP and Native American Student Center, the Women’s Center and the Human Rights Compliance Office to be included in the process of creating the Student Diversity Center. Galindo said the faculty advisers for the Native Center discussed being included in the Diversity Center and are OK as long as they don’t lose the space they have. “You know how precious space is on campus,” Galindo said. “We wouldn’t want to go back with what we fought so hard to get.”  Add as favorites (56) | Views: 1538
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