Multicultural Center (Rec. Gr. 5)

Historical note

The Multicultural Center began as the Afro-American Society in a Quonset hut on campus that was shared with Fine Arts. In 1971, the building was torn down and the Afro-American Society prepared to move into the Lee House at 31 Upper College Road. When it moved into the Lee House in 1973, the name of the organization changed to Uhuru SaSa, and the building was named the Uhuru SaSa House. The Student Life Office changed the name to Minority House in 1981, and in 1983, the Student Senate voted to change the name back to Uhuru SaSa. In February 1991, the building became the Multicultural Center. The Multicultural Center then moved to the old Theta Chi fraternity house at 14 Upper College Road in 1993.

Plans for a new building to house the Multicultural Center at 74 Lower College Road (between the Human Resources Department and the Memorial Union) led to a ground-breaking ceremony on April 27, 1995. The new building was finished in 1998 and the opening celebrations were held in September of that year.

Through its programs, activities, and services, the URI Multicultural Center seeks to enhance understanding among individuals interested in the development of diversity. While the primary constituency consists of the students of URI, and the primary focus is the campus, the Center invites participation and encourages dialogue between faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and community members in its work toward the creation of a community of common understanding, encompassing all ethnicities within and beyond URI. (For the convenience of the researcher, information on diversity and multicultural issues before the MCC at URI, see URI Diversity History, clippings from the student newspaper, Good Five Cent Cigar, 1967-1969 in Oversize.)

Multicultural Student Services (MSS), which is a part of the Office of Student Life, supervises the operation of the Multicultural Center. MSS is concerned with and serves as an advocate for the well-being of all multicultural students at URI. MSS works to create an environment conducive to multicultural students' successful living, both at URI and after graduation. Through its programs, MSS also attempts to increase all students' awareness of the richness of other cultures, MSS advises the following student organizations on campus:

• 1. Asian Student Association (ASA)
• 2. Cape Verdean Student Association (CVSA)
• 3. Korean Student Association (KSA)
• 4. Latin American Student Association (LASA)
• 5. Native American Student Association (NASA)
• 6. Uhuru SaSa (African-American Student Association
• 7. Student Organized Against Racism (SOAR)
• 8. Multicultural Leadership Council (MLC) – an umbrella organization made up of the executives of each multicultural student organization.

The Multicultural Center is the hub of co-curricular activities for multicultural students and serves as a gathering place for socializing, meetings, programs, services, and/or quiet study.