The Intercultural & Diversity Center, which recently moved to the commuter lounge's old spot in 240 Student Union, formally opened Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and praise from its UB community supporters.
Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs; SA President Dela Yador; and Andrea Costantino, director of Student Life, were just a few of the people in attendance who emphasized the center's role in promoting diversity at UB.
During the grand opening, the center was packed to capacity as students, administrators and supporters, people of all races, colors and backgrounds, mingled and sampled foods from nations worldwide.
The center was recently furnished with brand-new table-and-chair sets and couches. Shelves that had sat empty when the center was the commuter lounge now display artifacts representing different cultures of the world.
Carla Robinson, a work-study student at the Intercultural & Diversity Center, said that the center's expansion would help relieve crowding and provide much needed space.
"People come here and are chilling and getting educated at the same time," she said. "For our work, I see behind the scenes. I know we need more space. So, I don't think that this room is a waste."
One of the center's roles is to train advocates to educate the student body about diversity-related issues. These advocates organize student activities for freshmen in UB 101 classes and also run workshops dealing with gender, race and sexual orientation.
The center also contributes to the university's affirmative action mandate through its Minority Higher Education Management Program. This program awards qualified minority candidates with $1,400 per semester stipends as well as work experience with UB faculty mentors.
The program grooms these minority students with the ultimate goal of giving them faculty positions at UB.
Some students like Matt Mergel, a sophomore business major, said they were disappointed with the new center.
"The tradeoff (from commuter lounge to diversity center) was not worth it. The commuter lounge is now really small," he said. "All the furniture is broken. You move back a few inches and your ass is on the floor or on the wall."
Moreover, Mergel said the commuter lounge was already helping to advance the goals of the Intercultural & Diversity Center.
"What was in the old lounge was culturally diverse. The place was packed every day. (The diversity center) is never going to be as full as the commuter lounge," he said.
Mary Szvoren, a junior biochemistry major, said the Intercultural & Diversity Center might not be as successful as everyone plans it to be.
"They are forcing the racial integration of UB. I think that you should just let it happen instead of forcing the fact. The commuter lounge had people of all colors in it," she said.
Laryn Winnicki, a senior legal studies major, said the commuters' complaints are unwarranted.
"First of all, commuters are welcome. Second, there are lounges all over the North Campus. They can sleep in other places. Third, there is an educational purpose," she said.
Among the groups expected to benefit from the center's expansion and relocation are minority student clubs and associations.
Narcisa Paez, president of the Latin American Student Association, said her organization plans to take advantage of everything that the center offers.
"We participate in a campaign to bring artifacts from countries around the world to the center. Representatives from the relevant student associations sit on a diversity center consul," said Paez. "I think it's to provide minority students with a voice on student issues."
Yador, one of the chief proponents for the center, voiced the need for intercultural awareness at UB and emphasized that the center serves a greater purpose than the commuter lounge.
"It's very important to educate all races and diversities of the cultures on campus. This really isn't that big a change," he said. "This place is still open to everyone. The focus has been changed to educate the students."
Sahil Mullick, a senior biological science major, said being in the center was like being in a "mini-UB."
"It's so diverse," said Mullick. "You meet a lot of people you wouldn't otherwise see."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
