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Michael Carter Special to the Ebbtide "The Multicultural/Diversity Center is not available to me because of my skin color," an anonymous Caucasian student proclaimed in a letter to the editor in the October 4th edition of the Ebbtide. Subsequently, several more opinion letters have appeared in the campus paper rallying behind the center. As one response stated, "Please note that the center's name is not the Minority Center, it is open to students of any ethnicity." The recent publicity led me to consider something. Just what the heck in the Multicultural/Diversity Education Center all about? As a student at SCC for several years, I have always known about the program's existence, and have actively studied in its tiny conference room. Despite this, I began to realize I hadn't a clue of the actual goings on in the small but lively facility. Esther Pineiro-Hall, a staff member of the center, tried to clear up the confusion. "The individual who criticized the center probably looked inside and saw a variety of races and became intimidated. Maybe they weren't comfortable being in that environment." She emphasized to me that, "every one is welcome." As I began to delve into the MDEC's history, Pineiro-Hall explained to me, while I looked over some documents she provided, that the program was a student developed idea that was adopted by both the SCC senate and executive board in October of 1995, and approved by the college's cabinet that November. One of the papers given to me was the original mission statement which read, "the Multicultural Student Center is dedicated to student success academically. It is a place for informal study groups, mentoring, peer tutoring, and sharing of academic issues and information within the campus community." The 1995 proposal, now a bustling hub of activity, located in the cafeteria's former dish-washing pit, currently delivers many of its outlined goals. Some of its services stretch beyond these boundaries. The MDEC also provides students with open computers, scholarship and campus event information, employment listings, emergency MLK (Martin Luther King) student loans, and professor and faculty referrals. "People sometimes get the wrong idea about the center," Pineiro-Hall told me. "They walk by and see a bunch of kids talking, eating food and having a good time. But they don't realize all of the services we provide and the resources we have at student's disposal." Her statement was well founded, for even I had the wrong idea. Throughout my enrollment at SCC I had used the MDEC to hang-out with friends, study, or catch a quick nap in the conference room while pretending to read a book. The truth is that I never took time to find out what the program's purpose was, just like many others. Perhaps instead of strolling by and peeking through the windows and making assumptions, we ought to take a moment and walk inside. "The center is open to everyone," Pineiro-Hall told me again. © 2002 Shoreline Community College™ |