Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, for its new Multicultural Center in the Morris University Center. Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel and Associate Chancellor Venessa Brown from the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion will participate in the grand opening.
“As our student population has become more diverse with each passing year, establishing the Multicultural Center has been a priority project in the Office of Student Affairs,” Emmanuel said. “This commitment is in keeping with our ‘We Are One’ campaign to promote and foster a campus climate that respects the differences that we share, appreciates our common purpose and embraces the rich diversity of our community.
“Our hope is that the Center will grow during the course of time as the anticipated need for support and services increases.”
“The Center will be available to students, faculty and staff to increase cultural awareness and provide resources for increasing inclusion and collaboration between the many cultures that make up the SIUE community,” Brown said.
The Multicultural Center will also provide a home for a variety of cultural organizations such as Safe Zone, Black Girls Rock, and the Hispanic Student Association, among others.
Projected hours of operation will be 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with after-hours scheduled for group meetings by appointment.
The Multicultural Center is located in room 2060 in the MUC. Musical entertainment and refreshments will be provided.