Ball State University officials and students are dedicated to expanding and improving the Multicultural Center, but can't find common ground, either for the issue or the center.
Some students don't want to see the freestanding structure move to an office in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center because they feel it will become less important and are petitioning for a separate building.
Kay Bales, associate director of Student Affairs and dean of students, began discussing moving the Multicultural Center into the Student Center after its renovation because it is a student service that would fit in with the other programs in the building.
The Multicultural Center is going through a regularly scheduled comprehensive review where its location, facility quality and programs are examined, Bales said. After she discussed relocating the center with Multicultural Center Director Derick Virgil, the two offices began gathering student opinions.-á
In mid-January, many students who disagreed with the move attended an open forum in the Student Center. After the forum, six students formed a committee dedicated to expressing the students' views. The committee created a petition to keep the Multicultural Center out of the Student Center. Andrico Spates, graduate student and group member, said once the petition has 1,000 signatures the committee will present it to university officials.
Spates said more students will overlook the Multicultural Center, its programs and its educational resources if it moves to an office instead of having its own building. Regardless of costs, he said a center should be built closer to the middle of campus so students can use it more often.
"If they [university officials] really believe in what they preach, as far as enhancing the education here at Ball State, then money wouldn't be an issue," he said. -á
Bales and Virgil said they have also received opinions from student groups and alumni. Some students and alumni don't want to see the Multicultural Center move because they have emotional attachments to it or fear they will be less comfortable in an office, Virgil said. He said he wanted to provide students with a modern facility without eliminating its homey feeling. -á
Some students, such as junior Mona Luxion, feel putting the Multicultural Center into the Student Center would encourage a variety of students to use it. If the center re-locates to the Student Center, it will be more exposed, she said, and more students will take advantage of it.
"Everyone has a culture," Luxion said. "Therefore, everyone should be able to come to the center."
However, she said the extra square feet the office would provide wouldn't make up for the atmosphere and independence the Multicultural Center would lose.
Despite student requests for a new building, Ball State is not considering constructing a freestanding Multicultural Center. The question is whether students would be served better in the Student Center or the current space,-áBales said. Despite the age of the Multicultural Center and its lack of accessibility for handicapped students, the center might remain in its building, Bales said.
This is an important issue that means a great deal to Ball State's campus, Bales said. Therefore, a decision won't be made until more information, research and student opinions are gathered, she said.
"We had not made a decision in moving the Multicultural Center before we spoke to students," Bales said. "And we have not made a decision."-á
In addition to the forums and student group meetings, Bales and Virgil have also compared multicultural centers and offices at other universities to Ball State's.-á
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
