1. The Role of Multicultural Centers in the Wake of #BlackLivesMatter
Tuesday, March 14th
2:30pm-3:20pm
Grand Ballroom Salon C – Marriott Rivercenter
2017 NASPA Annual Conference, San Antonio TX
Dr. Michele Smith,
Yvania Garcia-Pusateri,
Ryan Reed
Missouri State University

2. Overview of Presentation
Introductions of Presenters
Learning Outcomes
Historical Analyses
Radical & Social Movements
History of Missouri State University Multicultural Resource Center
Case Study
Discussion
References
Contact Information

3. Who We Are
Dr. Michele D. Smith Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Missouri State University Yvania Garcia-Pusateri Executive Director of Multicultural Programs Ryan Reed Coordinator for Access Programs

4. Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn about the historical relationship between radical movements and multicultural centers.
Participants will understand the current role one multicultural center plays in student activism and fostering radical change.
Participants will use a case study to analyze how a multicultural center approaches student activism and movements like #BlackLivesMatter
Participants will learn how student affairs practitioners should support students in the wake of activism on college campuses.

5. Historical Analysis
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed which paved the way for an increase in the enrollment of African American/Black students on colleges and universities across the country, specifically Predominantly White Institutions.
While Black students and other students of color relished for the opportunity to receive an education along their White counterparts, they also saw a chance to spark change and revolution.
After the death of MLK Jr., The Black Student Revolution took place which gave birth to “Black studies courses, increased recruitment of and financial assistance for Black students, support for cultural activities, and establishment of Black cultural centers (BCCs) or Black houses” (Patton, 2006, p. 628).
These centers symbolized more than just a place; the also provided a “safe space” for students to call their own and be around others with similar cultural upbringings and values. Also it was a place where their racial and ethnic identities were affirmed.

6. Historical Analysis
With the increased enrollment of students of color and a focus on multiculturalism, Multicultural Centers came into creation in the 1980s, which also called for the establishment of services and offices geared towards women and LGBTQ+ students.
The creation of Multicultural Centers allowed for institutions to continue to execute the mission of Black Cultural Centers but enhance this mission by focusing on previously unreachable areas.
They provide space for students to create community as well as a family-like atmosphere with their peers and the staff within the center.
They “allow students who share common histories, cultures, customs, and challenges to support each other in an environment designed to meet their specific needs. These centers can also promote cross-cultural interactions among students” (Patton & Hannon, 2008, p. 140).

7. Historical Analysis
The Multicultural Center and the university are partners and help keep the institution accountable of their commitment to diversity: recruitment of diverse students as well as diverse staff and faculty etc.
White students are a focus as well - the center is the perfect venue to create dialogues that help all students understand the impact of identity and the trials and tribulations that various students experience because of their identities.
In addition to community building as well as leadership development, the Multicultural Center should be used to create solidarity for all students.

8. Radical & Social Change Movements:
After the implementation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, enrollment of Black students at Southern PWIS jumped from 3,000 to 98,000 which mirrored increases in the North (Mingle, 1981 as cited by Patton, 2006, p. 628).
While 8.4% of the college student population identified as Black, PWIs were drastically unprepared to meet the needs of these students.
Issues like this, led to Stokely Carmichael forming the Black Student Movement. Rhoads (1998) writes, “Armed with the tools of civil disobedience and spirit radicalized by witnessing the American dream betrayed, thousands of college students committed themselves to transforming campuses into sites of social and political change (as cited by Patton, 2006, p. 628).

9. The Black Student Movement Cont.
This social and political change included demands from students who wanted “their culture recognized and integrated into the academic, social, and administrative functions of their universities” (Patton, 2004, as cited by Patton 2006, p. 628).
Black Studies in the curriculum, increased recruitment and financial aid for Black students, cultural activities and the establishments of Black cultural centers.
Black Cultural Centers/and or Multicultural Centers would not be here without the students who led these movements and the students today look to these spaces for empowerment.

10. Multicultural Resource Center
1988: Minority Student Recruitment and Services became part of Admissions
1991: International Student Services & Minority Student Services were created
1994: Minority Student Services became an independent entity on campus and was no longer under Admissions
1995: Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) was established and listed under Minority Student Services, the located in room 309 of the Campus Union
1996: The MRC moved out of the Campus Union to Wells House 302
1999: The MRC moved back to the Campus Union in room 142
2002: Minority Student Services changed its name to Multicultural Student Services.
2006: Director of Multicultural Student Services was promoted to Assistant Vice President and Student Retention Services joined the office. Multicultural Programs was also established as an entity of Multicultural Student Services.
2011: Diversity Outreach and Recruitment joined Multicultural Programs.
2012: TRIO joined Multicultural Student Services
2014: New Assistant Director Hired (oversaw programs for multicultural & lgbtq+ programs)
2015: Student Protests
2016: New space allocated (Mary Jean Price Walls Multicultural Center Annex, extension of current MRC)
2016: New Assistant Vice President, Executive Director of TRIO, Executive Director of Multicultural Programs, and Coordinator of Multicultural Programs/LGBTQ+ Student Support Services were hired.

11. Case Study – Key Points
Significance of The shooting of Michael Brown which occurred on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri, a northern suburb of St. Louis, why this is important
University of Missouri-The first student protests occurred on September 24, 2015, at an event called "Racism Lives Here," where protesters claimed nothing had been done to address Head's concerns. On October 1, a second "Racism Lives Here" event was held with 40–50 participants.
An incident involving a drunken student on October 4 gave rise to more racial tensions. While an African-American student group, the Legion of Black Collegians, was preparing for Homecoming activities, a white student walked on stage and was asked to leave. Allegedly, while departing the premises the student said, "these n*%#$%* are getting aggressive with me", according to the LBC
Approx. three dozen Missouri State University students marched silently on the campus for about 1.5 hours during the tailgating festivities of Homecoming Besides the slurs and gun gestures, others told them to “Go back to St. Louis” and “You don’t belong here,” said a Missouri State senior and protest organizer. “Some of the comments that we received reiterated the whole need for this protest in the first place”
Everything that has transpired has led to more dialogue for what we have to do at the university level and what student leaders have to do
Dialogues & Conversations

12. Discussion
Given the case study or events on your own campus, what role did your cultural center and cultural center administrators play? What role should they have played?
Historically what has been the role of cultural centers on your campus?
In the wake of history repeating itself, what role do you want your center to play? What do you expect from your cultural center staff?
How do cultural center staff define the line between advocate for students and employee of the institution?

13. References Patton, L. D. (2006). The voice of reason: A qualitative
examination of black student perceptions of black culture centers. Journal of College Student Development, 47(6),
Patton, L. D. (2008). Collaboration for cultural
programming: Engaging culture centers, multicultural affairs, and student activities offices as partners. In S. Harper (Ed.), Creating inclusive campus environments for cross-cultural learning and student engagement (pp ). Washington, DC: NASPA

14. Contact Information
Dr. Michele D. Smith Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Missouri State Yvania Garcia-Pusateri Executive Director of Multicultural Ryan Reed Coordinator for Access Programs