CULTURAL CENTER
Most schools have cultural centers for students of various ethnic backgrounds, or for gay and lesbian students. These centers exist as places to congregate and create communities of students with common cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The centers usually also provide a wide range of academic support and advisement services, leadership skills training, as well as cultural programming. Events such as lectures, poetry slams, receptions, political forums, tutoring and mentoring and a host of stimulating activities often take place at cultural centers. Students from the cultural centers may also play a role in promoting diversity at the college.
Examples of cultural centers include those at the University of Connecticut: the Fred Simmons African American Cultural Center, the Asian American Cultural Center, the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center, the Rainbow Center, and the Women’s Center. Some smaller colleges may have one Multicultural Center if they don't have a large population of students from various ethnic groups. For example, Sacred Heart University has an International/Multicultural Center, but they also have student run organizations such as La Hispanidad, UMOJA and Circolo Italiano for students of Latino, African and Italian descent. The University of Hartford also has a campus life that includes many organizations from many different cultual backgrounds. Some of these clubs are CASA (Caribbean American Student Association), Ekta (Indian Student Association), and the Muslim Students Assocation.
Southern Connecticut State University also has a Multicultural Center, which strives to promote cross-cultural awareness and multicultural understanding. Many student organizations exist as part of the multicultural center at Southern, including the Asian Society, Black Student Union and West Indian Student Assocation. There are also many events that are held at the multicultural center throughout the year that celebrate traditional holidays and festivals of various cultures and countries.
Other university student centers may promote multicultural activities and events as well. For example, Howard University houses the Armour J. Blackburn University Center, which provides a cultural experience outside the classroom. In particular, the Blackburn Art Gallery offers students the opportunity to display their own art while providing exhibitions by many artists including new, national and international artists. This gallery also hosts lectures, book signings and readings as well as other intellectually stimulating activities. Click here to watch a cool slide show of some of the beautiful art in the Blackburn Art Gallery.
Another university student center that provide terrific opportunities for exposure to culture and history is at Hampton University. Hampton has its own museum, which is the oldest African American museum in the United States. They have historical African American objects and art as well as art from other cultues, including traditional African, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Asian.
Most colleges and universities try to provide opportunities for students to learn about and meet other students with various cultural backgrounds. This may occur in Cultural Centers, Multicultural Centers, or through the