UIC Today : October 25, 2001

Asian American Cultural Center Needed Now

by Brian Crowe
USG President

Fellow Students,

An amazing thing about our campus, that I am sure you have at one point or another taken notice of, is the amazing diversity that we find ourselves surrounded by each and every day. In the regular hustle and bustle of our lives, we may not notice the profound effect it has on each and every one of us, and our learning experience here at UIC. However, the effect is profound and really enhances the perspective that you take with you when you walk away from UIC after graduation. The UIC graduate's perspective is a worldwide perspective. This better prepares UIC students for the ever-shrinking world. We have such a diverse student body, and I think that it is high time that we embrace it!

There are certain things that people on all levels at the University can do to further develop the worldwide perspective. For instance, students are encouraged to develop cultural clubs, that hold lectures that really expose a student to a culture. Faculty can give a lecture about a particular aspect of people, culture, or country promotes learning. But, the resources that really help students are programs that can be provided through your tuition dollars, by the administration. For instance: African American Studies, Middle East Studies, Latin American Studies, Native American Studies, and Women's Studies programs. Also what has been done on our campus is the building of cultural centers, like the Rafael Cintrón Ortiz Latino Cultural Center, and the African American Cultural Center.

What is now needed is an Asian American Cultural Center. With 23.5 percent of the student population at UIC Asian American, it is high time for a cultural center. Thanks to the Provost, steps are being taken to create the center, but there needs to be an expedition of the process. It is crucial for the retention of students as well as the education of all the non-Asian American students. Students through such groups as the AACC (Asian American Coalition Committee) have worked to implement an Asian American Studies program at UIC, as well as the cultural center, and they should be very highly commended for their efforts.

I believe that we need to reaffirm our commitment to diversity, and create an Asian American Cultural Center. We need it now! It is crucial to our student population that the center gets created. The doors of the Asian American Cultural Center need to be opened in the fall of 2002!

Please contact me if you have any interest or concern on the issue. (bcrowe2@uic.edu)

Sincerely,

Brian T. Crowe
President
Undergraduate Student Government