Cultural center reps debate student involvement

When was the last time you felt truly uncomfortable? How about just out of your element?

QUAD (Queers United Against Discrimination) hosted a "Faces of Diversity" panel Tuesday afternoon in the Women's Center to show people that stepping outside their comfort zones to explore diversity on campus may not be such a bad thing. The event featured six representatives from different cultural centers discussing their experiences not only with discrimination on campus and in their lives, but the involvement (or lack thereof) of the UConn community.

What started out as a discussion to raise awareness morphed into a brainstorm about getting the school active in uniting different races and cultures. This proved a pressing concern among not only the different cultural centers, but people who want to contribute and don't know how.

"We try hard to bring in any and all students … most just don't really care," commented Kristine Din, a panelist representing the Asian-American Cultural Center. Many of the panelists cited an overwhelming sense of apathy as the source of low involvement, while others critiqued the approach tactics.

"We need to start thinking about what skill sets the different histories bring to the group," remarked Jason Ortiz, a 6th-semester political science and communication processes double major and panelist representing the Puerto-Rican/Latin-American Cultural Center. He expanded on his concept of "A Diversity of Tactics," which centered on the belief that the cultural centers should band together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. He expressed the importance of language and appealing to the crowd, particularly hosting events that bring in big names to attract those who otherwise would never be concerned with diversity issues.

Serginho Walker, a 6th-semester communication disorders major representing the African-American Cultural Center, suggested a Multi-cultural Center that would embrace a more inclusive sense of the community and not just separate spheres of diversity. Several panelists and audience members disagreed. Most felt that students should leave their comfort zones to explore these cultural centers because they aren't just for the ethnically and culturally diverse; they're for everyone.

So, is there a way to solve the lack of involvement? Basically, action needs to occur from all sides, the panel agreed.

"People need to move through the resistance phase to come up with a solution" Florio said. "We need to be louder," Ortiz added.

One member of the audience pointed out the community needs to abandon its beliefs that they are entitled to feeling comfortable all the time; more straight people need to approach the Rainbow Center, more white people need to interact with the African-American Cultural Center and more men need to support the Women's Center.

"Involvement is the most powerful tool," remarked Paul Grabowski, a panelist. Feeling uncomfortable is valuable and helpful, but the process is a give-and-take, according to Grabowski.

By the end of the discussion, each member of the panel was shaking hands and actively agreeing that they would unite to raise more awareness and get people to support. Not only would the collaborative efforts cater to the people who aren't paying attention, they would address the resistive efforts in a positive and constructive manner, they said.