Tucked away in the University Union (UU) stands the bright facade of the Multicultural Center (MCC), Cal Poly’s resource for cultural clubs and diversity training.
The MCC was founded in 1981 based on student need, co-coordinator of the MultiCultural Center and the Pride Center Erin Echols said. The purpose of the MCC is to create a generation of ethical and knowledgeable leaders, according to its website. One of the goals of the MCC is to provide a safe space for students. The space includes a lounge, multipurpose rooms, offices and computer work centers. The lounge is available to any student when the UU is open. This year, a student will be stationed in the MCC between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to provide resources and information about clubs.
Though the MCC provides a healthy amount of diversity events and resources, Cal Poly is not as diverse as other California college campuses, Echols said. She said the MCC takes its commitment to diversity seriously and wants to improve programs and services for Cal Poly’s current students. She said the MCC wants to make the campus more welcoming to a broader group of students.
“The leadership of the university will be instrumental in making improvements in this area,” Echols said.
In the past, the MCC focused on monthly programming, and celebrated one heritage each month, Echols said. Now, the MCC plans to move away from focused programming, and instead host events for all cultures throughout the year.
Echols said MCC events rarely sell out and she’d like to see more students taking advantage of the opportunities.
“I feel there is a lot more opportunity for people to be involved,” she said.
Political sciences senior Molly Pon said she didn’t know where the MCC was located, nor anything about them. She doesn’t know if she’s been to any of the events, she said.
Construction management senior Ian Clark said he also doesn’t know where the MCC is, or what they do.
When it comes to student and community outreach, Echols said the MCC is at its limit. She said they publicize through the weekly online newsletter, the “Cal Poly Report,” the Facebook page and the MCC’s website. The MCC contacts professors with classes related to cultural subjects as well, she said. The faculty and staff also receive a newsletter each week.
“I’d love to say we could do more, but I’m not sure what that is,” Echols said. “We’re doing everything we can think of.”
Anyone can sign up to volunteer with the MCC, Echols said. Echols said students should be specific about what they want to do, such as work at a booth or plan events. Students who volunteer receive rewards like MCC or ATOG t-shirts, other merchandise or discounts. To volunteer, Greek Adviser and co-coordinator of the MCC Renoda Campbell said to come see her or Echols at the MCC, or visit the website. She also encourages students to go to the events.
“We need students to come support,” Campbell said.
There are 40 events planned for the upcoming year and students plan almost all of them, Echols said. The events are almost evenly divided throughout each quarter, she said.
ATOG
Another Type of Groove (ATOG) happens the first Wednesday of every month. ATOG brings a regional, national or international poet to campus to express life through poetry in a contemporary way, Campbell said. Last quarter, poets Denise Jolly, Buddy Wakefield and Brandi Blues came to campus. The monthly event also allows students to share their poetry during the open mic session. Campbell said ATOG brought 100 to 400 people to Chumash in the past, and they spit their poetry.
“Some of the well-known artists have said our students could tour themselves, they’re so good,” Campbell said.
ATOG wraps up the year of poetry in spring with a competition called “The Anthem Poetry Slam.” The Anthem brings a group of nationally-recognized slam poets to compete for a chance to return to Cal Poly the following year to defend their title as reigning champions. Last year, Rudy Francisco won.
CultureFest
CultureFest aims to promote cultural awareness and appreciation. It’s an annual family-friendly and free event that happens at Mitchell Park. About 30 to 35 cultural clubs and organizations host booths, sell food, and some even do live performances, Echols said. CultureFest takes place on Oct. 14 from noon to 5 p.m. This is the festival’s 15th year, Echols said.
Echols said she’s most excited about CultureFest this year. The student team who puts the event on changes every year, and come up with new and creative ways to make the event fun, she said.
PolyCultural Weekend
The MCC hosts PolyCultural Weekend for conditionally-admitted students who identify as a student of color, Echols said. The 2013 weekend will be held from April 5-7. PolyCultural organizations include Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, American Indian Student Association and EPIC. The event was meant to affiliate the students with the Cal Poly campus, she said.
Diversity Advocate Training
The MCC plans to continue the Diversity Advocate Training workshops that started last spring. These workshops contain small groups of around 15 who examine their own social identities as well as that of others to further understand people with diverse backgrounds. The workshops happen four times in the fall.
Echols said the goal is to help students, faculty and staff to develop language and have conversations with people who are different than themselves. They share experiences and challenge stereotypes they might have, she said.
Movie Screenings
The MCC also hosts movie screenings, such as Gran Torino and Better Luck Tomorrow. A student coordinates each of the MCC’s events, Echols said. That student works individually or with a group of students to pick a film and get the university to show it, she said. They also work with a professor to come up with post-film discussion questions to round off the event, Echols said.