Chicago Flame: February 3, 2002

Cultural Center Should Wait for Better Time

Feature Editorial

The nation is in a recession. The state has just asked for $42 million back from the funds it already agreed to give the University of Illinois. Fourteen million dollars of that money will come from UIC's budget. Wouldn't you think the university should hold off on new projects until our financial outlook seems a little less murky?

The university board of trustees is proposing a 10 percent increase in tuition, more students in the classrooms, a hiring freeze for new recruits and fewer extracurricular activities. But students are pushing for an Asian American resource and cultural center as planned.

Yes, we have a large Asian population at UIC. And yes, of course, their voices need to be represented fairly. And it will be great when they eventually have a building or spot to call their own, in which they can educate others about their heritage and culture.

But let's be realistic. The money used to build this new center is going to detract from the minimal funds left at UIC. With fewer teaching assistants and less funds, education is going to suffer. Sure, the culture at UIC is important. But shouldn't classes take priority?

Understandably, the Asian American Coalition Committee is pushing to have this happen now. Asian-American students have been trying to establish a cultural center for10 years, and it's a shame it hasn't happened before. But now that other essentials are being cut, does it really make sense for such a center to continue as planned?

Committee members make the point that resources found at the cultural center could be used by people of any race, not just Asians. But many of the proposed components, such as discussions on world events, could be accomplished without the new building.

Administrators have cut back on the original plan. Interim Provost Charlotte Tate has told the committee members she will have to wait to see how much can be allocated given a growing list of budget cuts.

In light of other things being put on the backburner, a new cultural center is not something that should be in the forefront right now.

If it's worth having, it's worth waiting another year.