The Collegian

Issue date: 8/29/06 Section: News

The flags displayed in the Delphine Intercultural Center represent the heritages of the diverse students on campus.

"What I would like is for the community to get involved," said Matt Milton '08, president of the Black Student Union (BSU). He sees Saint Mary's as a home to everyone. "Take pride in that."

Early this summer, seven of the diversity groups on campus met for a diversity retreat. What came out of this retreat was the reemergence of the Diversity Club Coalition (DCC). The coalition is comprised of the Asian Pacific American Student Association (APASA), the Business & Accounting Latino Association (BALA), Brothas, BSU, the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Hermanas Unidas (HaU), the Latin American Student Association (LASA), Sistas, and Pulses.

The DCC was originally formed two years ago and briefly reemerged last year with R-Evolution Week. "It was never taken as a very good resource," said Milton.

On June 7, the DCC sent a letter to Provost Sally Stampp, Frances Sweeney, vice-provost of academic affairs, and Russ Tiberii, dean of academic advising & achievement. The letter brought forward the concerns that the DCC had for the Office of Academic Advising (OAA).

"What's important to notice is that the way the department is moving. It's moving away from a cultural standpoint, cultural program focus, and more towards an academic and achieving program," said Jessica Lee '07, president of APASA.

Lisa McRipley, director of Delphine Intercultural Center and consultant to the Diversity Committee, attended the June diversity retreat and saw the start of this process. "I think it's great," said McRipley. "The Diversity Committee has offered support for the Diversity Club Coalition in any way they deem necessary."

Arthor Curley '08, Associated Student of Saint Mary's College (ASSMC) vice president of student affairs and member of the Diversity Committee, has been impressed by the DCC. "I am very proud of them," said Curley. "It's good to see them mobilizing, coming together and taking on the issues they see."

One of the largest issues to the DCC is the speed at which positions in the OAA was replaced. Since the OAA has been instated approximately 15 years ago, there have been 15 departures from the three main positions of Asian, Black, and Latino student program leaders including the recent departures of Andrea Lum, former coordinator of Asian Pacific Student Programs, and Brian Stanley, former coordinator of Black Student Programs. This leaves Ivan Pagan, coordinator of Latino Student Academic Advising and Achievement Programs, as the remaining ethnic specific coordinator.

"If you look at the title of Andrea, and then you look at the title Ivan has, which is new, which was changed from what Norma's [Lopez] was," Lee said, "they have less time to focus on cultural programming. I'm concerned that the focus is shifting away from cultural thinking which is something we all strive very hard for."

This past Wednesday, the members of the DCC met with President Brother Ron Gallagher, Stampp, and Tiberii. "We do understand as a dean in Academic Advising, he is looking at the wider [situation]," Milton said. "Because Andrea and Brian had left…we felt it was important to get these positions filled."

Nothing is going to be immediate but Milton is confident with the meeting. "They can tell us what their concerns are and we can tell what our concerns are," Milton said. "It's a start."

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