It all began in 1985.
The Multicultural center originally started in the basement of Graham
but
through the perseverance and labor of Barkada, Hawai’i Club, APSU, IGwebuike, CSA, and MEcha el-frente the MCC was formed in Shapell Lounge
A “tri-fold brochure from the Student Resource Center explaing the Center and the various student services it offers. It includes information about Black Student Resources, Chicano Student Resources, Project 50, International Student Resources, Women Student Resources, Disabled Student Resources, Exit Interviews, Multicultural Center, and Off-Campus Student Resources. From the 1985 to 1986 academic year.” - SCU Archival Collection
MCC Timeline
1985: Unity 1
Organizations involved: Igwebuike (Black Student Union), MEChA-El Frente (now Latinx Student Union), Ka Mana’o O Hawai’i, Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APSU), Chinese Student Union, and Barkada
What Happened?
In 1985, the six marginalized student organizations listed above came together under the name of “Unity” to establish the Multicultural Center (MCC).
The creation of Unity occurred when the six organizations were ordered out of their offices in Dunne Basement and told to apply for cubicles in the newly renovated Benson Center.
Unity found the space offered to be inadequate in size and noticed that the “space” was only one of the issues at hand.
They took this opportunity to write a 21 page proposal for a Multicultural Center that would provide “...a place where the minority student (could) feel at home: a place where they (could) express themselves culturally without the constraints imposed on them in many areas in university life” (Unity Flyer).
The Multicultural Center opened its doors for the first time during the 1985-1986 Academic School Year in the Graham Basement.
1991: Unity 2
What Happened?
Racial tensions against marginalized students sparked an open forum hosted by Igwebuike.
Students from the MCC pointed out faults within the University in regards to poor recruitment/retention of faculty, staff, and students of color.
250 students rallied together in November 1991, wearing green armbands to symbolize solidarity.
By 1992, the MCC included some ten organizations and there were three others that had begun to undergo the admissions process.
A proposal was prepared and delivered to Father Locatelli that stressed the need for an adequate facility that was more centrally located.
The proposal resulted in the creation of the MCC West in Benson Memorial Center.
In the Spring of 1993, the MCC (Executive Board) was approached about the possible cutting of SRC (Student Resource Center) positions to half-time and, despite their objections, by the fall of 1993, the positions had been cut.
Many of the activities once supported by the SRC were no longer available and only added to the overwhelming activities falling upon the MCC Executive Board (E-Board).
1999: Unity 3
What Happened?
University restructuring led to the removal of key support systems for marginalized students.
On June 2, 1999, 250 students rallied working yellow armbands and black shirts to symbolize solidarity. They marched through campus voicing three demands:
(1) The University must grant complete and exclusive access to the Shapell Facility to the MCC.
(2) The University must legitimize the Ethnic Studies Program as a University department, complete with financial and organizational support.
(3) Within both the Academic Advising and Learning Resources Center and the Center for Multicultural Learning, the University must include all functions and positions previously held by the Student Resource Center devoted strictly to the needs of targeted populations--specifically ethnic, disabled, gay, lesbian, international students, women, and religious marginalized communities. In order to ensure their optimization, they must be working full time for their specific targeted group.
Students rallied for three days and three nights until a closed meeting reached an agreement.
2015: Unity 4
What Happened?
In May 2015, a racially charged Yik Yak post created a spark that revealed an underlying sense of frustration and discontent on campus.
The outcry led to a broader campus wide forum to discuss the situation and campus climate concerns.
After the Forum, SCU students formed Unity 4 and began to draft a series of tactics. In the end, the group developed a list of 21 Tactics falling into the areas of Academics, Student & Residence Life, Transparency, and Recruitment & Orientation.
In response to the demands presented by the leaders of Unity 4, the University Administration has begun to make changes and additions to its current approach to diversity and inclusion on campus.
We have most recently seen this with the hiring of the first Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
In Winter Quarter 2016, an Inclusive Excellence Student Advisory Council was convened to serve in an advisory role to the Council on Inclusive Excellence.
Students were initially participating in working groups that assessed and reviewed both the diversity requirement and the pathway requirement in the University’s Core Curriculum.
2023: Unity 5
What Happened?
Was declared on March 2nd, 2023 by an email supported by the OML, ISEAC, and the MCC because Unity 4 demands were not being met.
Multiple efforts for Shapell expansion were being ignored.
There was still a lack of re-evaluation of diversity courses.
Admission rates for students of color, particularly marginalized communities, were decreasing and there were no commitments made in raising it.
Ignorance on behalf of admin on faculty of color turnover rates and more are constantly faced by administrative barriers and a lack of institutional support.
Reflection
Throughout Unity 5 there was a lot of miscommunication and confusion between three entities, IESAC (Inclusive Excellence Student Advisory Council), MCC Staff, and all 16 cultural RSO’s. IESAC was a policy committee born out of Unity 4 to ensure demands were made. MCC staff felt cut out of decisions made by IESAC and further more communities within the MCC felt that their voices were not being heard. As time went on general members, boards, and faculty were not accurately informed for Unity 5 and left the boards and it’s Co-Chairs in the unknown then burnt out as it started later.
Commitments from the University & Next Steps
We were able to have a town hall/community conversation with President Julie Sullivan and Acting Provost Ed Ryan.
Boards came together to explain our demands & frustrations; supported one another.
Shapell expansion was confirmed! Admin will be building out the blueprint with the architects with insights from the MCC community.
The student of color population increased to 54% last year as well as the university committing to being an HSI but there’s still a long way to go.
Administration and other groups on campus have recognized the MCC and its organizations as a result of the town hall conversation.