2008 Woodie Awards
Multicultural event welcomes new students
Center gives students a place they can relate to
Briana Alfaro
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Campus
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The Multicultural Center, who had their sixth annual Multicultural convocation Friday evening in the Kate Buchanan Room, houses the Latino Peer Mentoring.
The Multicultural Center organized the event to give new students, both freshmen and transfers, a place to connect with organizations that support underrepresented students.
The Learning Center, which is in the same Academic Support division as the Multicultural Center, referred Hernandez to the mentoring program.
"[The Latino Peer Mentoring program] is somewhere I could relate to," she said.
In the Karshner Lounge, club members and their tables assembled for the event. Student representatives spoke with guests about their clubs and how to get involved. Brittany Cunningham, sophomore and psychology major, was there to talk about Queens of Distinction. Although her club is not part of the Multicultural Center, they have similar interests.
"The [Multicultural Center] represents diversity and that's what our club is about," she said.
Diamond "Lady Love" Dumas also tabled for the Queens of Distinction. She expressed a point that was repeated by guests throughout the evening.
"This is a predominantly white campus," she said. "It's good to know that we're not the only ones."
Humboldt State has more underrepresented students than ever before, said Marylyn Paik-Nicely, director of the Multicultural Center.
Paik-Nicely welcomed students to the event and gave a brief history of the convocation.
The annual affair started with the Latino community, with groups like Latinos Unidos and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Azatlan, as a way to welcome new students to the community.
The Multicultural Center saw a similar need for students and took over the event.
"[The Multicultural Center's] vision is to build and sustain an inclusive, multicultural community," she said.
C.C. Norman's friends asked him to participate in the convocation as a member on a student panel. The senior and business major answered questions for new students about going to Humboldt State and living in Arcata. The Bay Area native feels that this is a different place.
"People won't like this environment if they aren't open-minded," Norman said.
Milton White felt similarly when he moved here. The transition from a big city to Arcata was a big one. He urged students to get involved.
"It really is what you make it," White said.
Besides Latino Peer Mentoring, Hernandez is also involved in Humboldt State's Legacy, a community service group for women of color. The group has made her feel more welcome in the Humboldt community.
"I've gotten a lot of support," she said. "It's like a family away from home."
Briana Alfaro can be contacted at briana.alfaro@gmail.com
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