The Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center groundbreaking Friday marked a significant step forward for the university in its efforts to promote diversity.
- Jackie Gaughan pictured next to a drawing of the building that shall bear his name.
The building’s location in the middle of campus will serve as a visible symbol of the commitment to diversity, said Juan Franco, vice chancellor for student affairs.
Construction of the $8.7 million building began Friday morning, with the opening of the building planned for 2010. The 30,000 square foot center will provide meeting rooms for student organizations, computer labs and a multi-purpose room. Its location symbolizes the importance of students having interactions with different cultures and perspectives.
Chancellor Harvey Perlman called the Gaughan Multicultural Center a priority of his and an important step in securing and expanding the progress made in diversity.
It’s certainly refreshing to hear Perlman’s oral support of the project. The question is, where is his monetary support?
In 2006, students passed a referendum to increase their fees by $12 per semester to pay half the cost of the building. Private donations, such as the one from Gaughan family, covered the remaining cost. Absent in this picture is money from the chancellor or from the administration.
Hats off to the student leaders, such as former student body presidents Katie Weichman and Omaid Zabih, who made the student fee referendum a success. Thank you to the University Foundation for securing the donations to make the other half of the project possible. What about a donation from the university itself?
On several occasions including his State of the University Address, Perlman has talked about the multicultural center as a success of the university and thus a success of his. Sure, Perlman consented to the building and its location, but the leadership came from students, whom he unfortunately failed to recognize.
The real heroes on Friday’s groundbreaking were the people in the audience–the students who wrote the check.
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