Multicultural Center

Series 1a. Subject File
The Subject File contains records of the Multicultural Center that demonstrate the development of services to meet the needs of multicultural students at URI. Included are the activities of multicultural student organizations and Greek societies on campus, events sponsored by these organizations and the Multicultural Center, scholarship information, and employment opportunities, as well as general information on topics such as AIDS, bilingual education, and racism.

Of particular interest are two events that took place at URI, both of which exemplify the frustration multicultural students feel towards racial inequality on campus: the black students' takeover of the Administration Building in 1971 and the Taft Hall demonstration in 1992. The purpose of both events was to protest institutionalized racism multicultural students felt was being practiced by the university administration.

Materials relating to minority faculty recruitment, the URI/Providence Outreach Program, and the Rhode Island minority community indicate the interest and concern of the Multicultural Center in issues affecting not only URI students, but the faculty and staff and community as a whole. The records in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within folders.

Series 1b. Subject File
This series of records includes flyers for events and organizations, newsletters, mission and vision statements, memoranda related to affirmative action, and the partial correspondence of Melvin Wade, Director of the Multicultural Center. Subjects of particular note include the nonviolence initiatives of Bernard Lafayette and the records pertaining to of the Society Organized Against Racism (SOAR). The series is organized alphabetically by subject or type of material and chronologically within the folders.

Series 2. Diversity Week
In February 1997, a committee met to plan a “Diversity Day,” based on programs at Lesley and Smith colleges in Massachusetts. According to the meeting minutes, a similar program had existed at URI from 1986-1991. The 1997 program was supposed to be held for a two-day period in September 1997, but it was expanded to a week-long schedule.

Like programs in following years, the first Diversity Week included a keynote address, workshops, a food fair, and entertainment. The purpose of the program was to build community and foster intercultural understanding. Diversity Week is still a yearly tradition which sometimes intersects with the Honors Colloquium and various music festivals. Since 1999, the event has included the bestowing of the annual URI Diversity Awards.

The records in this series include flyers and planning paperwork for 1997-2004, as well as evaluations filled out by those who attended the workshops. The folders are organized chronologically.

Series 3. Search Weekend
The Search Weekend program brought mostly minority high school students to URI to see what college life was like. Spring Search was a one-day program aimed at underclassmen, and Fall Search Weekend was an overnight experience for juniors and seniors. The visiting high school students attended classes, presentations, and a mini-college fair. They were sponsored by current URI students and received information about admissions, financial aid, support services, academics, and student activities.

The first program was held in spring of 1983 as part of a push to increase minority enrollment. The program was organized by Terry Addison, director of Minority Student Services. It was initially funded by a combination of student organizations and administrative offices, but in 1984 the Office of Admissions took financial responsibility. Usually about 60 students attended the program. Addison lobbied consistently for more funding so that the program could admit more students.

Records in this series are divided into two sub-series: Subject Files and Chronological Files. The Subject Files, which are organized alphabetically, include budgets, news clippings, and memoranda. The chronological files include applications, evaluations, and schedules.

Subject Files

Chronological Files

Series 4. New Building
In 1993, a building committee formed to study locations for a new multicultural center. The chosen site was officially announced in 1995, and construction was completed in 1998. The opening celebration was held in September of that year. See also the Multimedia Series.

This series includes the project manual, checklists for finishing and decorating the new building, and plans for the opening celebrations. Many documents appear in more than one folder, and it seems that some of the folders were the personal files of different people involved with the building committee. For example, Gloria Arteaga was a graduate student working for the Multicultural Center. As she was responsible for much of the communication between members of the committee, her file remains intact. The folders are organized alphabetically by subject and chronologically within folders.

Series 5. News Clippings, Scrapbooks, and Photographs
This series includes loose news clippings, bound copies of "In the News," student organization scrapbooks, and photographs taken at the Multicultural Center and at student organization events.

Series 6. Multimedia
Contains VHS video tapes of various events sponsored or related to the Multicultural Center or its interests. Of note is an oral history discussion in 1998 of the emergence of the talent development program, black student organization and activism in the 1960s and 1970s. Those interviewed were Thomas Ellison, President of the Afro-American Society in 1969 and other students who participated in the Black student movement and subsequent strike in 1971; William Ferrante, Acting President of URI from 1973-1974); Harold Langlois, the first Director for Talent Development hired in June 1968, and Frank Froleo, URI graduate, began his career at URI as a tutor at Talent Development and is now Assistant Director, Special Programs. Prof. Art Stein, Prof. James Findlay and others are interviewed over the course of two sessions. Also of interest is a 2002 recording of Cambodian youth in Providence, RI protesting the deportation of Asian youth. The stylized video was produced by a youth group, Prsym, Providence Youth Student Movement. There are also video taped speeches of prominent persons including Bob Moses. The Moses recording is damaged but audible. The recordings are arranged in alphabetical order by event or speaker.