2000-10-12

              RO. Boa IS66

Saint John's Universit)' Collegeville, MN 56321

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We've got to work with Nigeria. That's an important continent.

Big Wu rocks

Homecoming

2000

Students pack rat hall

for performance

A&E-9

Number XIJ

Official student newspaper since 1887

Diversity dialogue takes new direction

By Amanda L. Mitchell Staff Writer

Students, many of whom belong to campus organizations, met to discuss the problem of lack of diversity on the campuses of CSB/SJU at Idzerda House last Sunday. The Cultural Affairs Board organized the meeting in an effort to open communication between organizations that often are working toward the same goals of diversity, and, in effect, social justice.

The dubs and groups represented included Free The Planet, CSB Campus Ministry, Saint John's Social Justice, Parents On Campus, the Sophomore Social Justice Committee, Student Advocates Against Sexual Violence, Joint Events Council, Peer Resource Program, the Peace Studies Department, the Asian Club, Saint Ben's Senate, Cultural Affairs Board, Urban Justice, and the School of Americas Watch.

Members of the administration who attended were Lisa Mueller, the resident director of east and west apartments and campus houses at CSB and Matt Caires, Assistant Director for Student Activities" and Leadership Development at SJU. Gar Kellom, vice-president of student development at Saint John's, appeared near the end of the meeting.

Sara Willi, public relations representative of the Cultural Affairs Board, defined its role: "CAB is the umbrella to all the other diversity-issue clubs on campus." She stressed that its goals were to have all the clubs working together to promote diversity.

CAB has operated many diversity-oriented events such as International Fiasco I and II and the International Film Festival as well as being involved in bringing speakers bell hooks and Rev. Bernice King to campus last year.

Several groups on campus make an effort to diversify the cultural experiences of students. For example, the Peace Studies department, works to bring speakers to campus who exemplify different ideas about society and culture. Their plan is action and education outside of the curriculum.

The women who live at Idzerda House form the Global Initiative Group that will be putting on the. Festival of Cultures soon.

After a brief introduction of the clubs represented and the goals of the meeting, everybody split into small circles where they discussed not only the communication struggles different groups on campus face but also the larger problem of bringing cultural awareness to the campuses. Afterwards, the large group again formed and shared what the individual groups had discussed.

Caires continually stressed the absence of a physical public forum at CSB/SJU where clubs can meet and discuss ideas. He added that there might be plans for a student activities/multi-cultural services center to be installed in Sexton Commons. Until then, there is not a physical place on campus that says, "We appreciate difference."

He later mentioned the CSB/SJU strategic plan, a document otherwise unknown to most students at the meeting, in which 25 percent is dedicated to diversifying CSB/SJU. He asserted that this is why it is important to have a forum, so the administration can explain these types of things to students. Shared information can result in more activity. "Colleges and universities are notorious for putting plans out there and not having any action," said Caires.

¦ See Diversity page 2: Students, parents and faculty voice their concerns

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Jackie Wolnik and Gjrin Powers study beneath the shadow of the Rbbey bell banner.         Photo bvMichael Murray

Vigil raises issue of hate crimes

ByNakia S. Pearson Staff Writer

There was a warm drizzle of compassion that heated up many a heart at Lake George Pavilion in St. Cloud last Thursday. As people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds revealed their own stories of hatred done against them, others present at this "Stop the Hate Vigil" stood together amidst the cold wind that seemed to wrap the earth in an intense huddle for warmth.

Members from the 37 endorsing organizations around the St. Cloud area, including NOVA from St. Cloud State University and stu-

dents from CSB/SJU, united in harmony to address matters that often go unaddressed in such a small-scale community.

The many concerned individuals who attended were very much imbibed in the endearing attitudes of those who spoke up about their experiences of being discriminated upon in this very community.

One minority student from the CSB shared her experience of going into a Perkin's Restaurant and being asked for identification when the men accompanying her were in their thirties. Perhaps this was an issue of simply applying policy, but the fact that these individuals who were the only ones asked for ID that night, as

was implied by the student, certainly adds to the implications. The student expressed that even though the commotion was great, no one else present in the restaurant did anything, while some people went as far as to complain about these individuals actually disturbing the overall peace of the restaurant.

Another, a Mexican-American from SCSU, expressed his distress over being wrongly accused of selling drugs at a football game and being frisked uncomfortably by policemen.

¦ See Vigil page 3: Attendees connect themselves with similar movements

www.csbsju.edu/sjrecord/