Univ. announces plans for multicultural center
President Brody decided almost immediately to try and honor their request, but many of the multicultural student groups moved their meetings by their own accord from the public space of the Mattin Center to various classrooms and multi-purpose rooms across campus that were not specifically designated for their organizations.
This lack of permanence has caused frequent problems, according to Alena Geffner-Mihlsten, senior and co-president of the Inter-Asian Council (IAC).
"Everybody here has stories. One time, we had a hip hop festival, and we booked Shriver months in advance - but then the administration realized that there was supposed to be some kind of alumni event there, and they kicked us out," Geffner-Mihlsten said.
The Center is set to re-open at 3505 N. Charles St. - currently home to the Science and Technology Center - in about three years, either at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester or during the following January Intersession period, according to Katrina McDonald, the newly appointed associate dean for multicultural affairs.
Henry Hopkins said that 3505 is an ideal location because it is in close proximity to the Interfaith Center and first-year housing, and because it has a house-like, relaxing atmosphere that will hopefully encourage closeness.
Until the transition, students will be able to meet at an interim facility located in the Homewood Apartments building. The opening date has not been announced, but McDonald said that they plan to open the facility within the next three months.
Use of the Center will not be restricted to members of multicultural groups; Rather, it will be open to all Hopkins students.
"We hope that every kind of student that attends Hopkins will be utilizing that Center at some point," McDonald said.
In function, the Center will be similar to the Bunting-Meyerhoff Interfaith and Community Service Center, a place where students of all faiths are welcome. McDonald called the Interfaith Center their "closest model."
This lack of permanence has caused frequent problems, according to Alena Geffner-Mihlsten, senior and co-president of the Inter-Asian Council (IAC).
"Everybody here has stories. One time, we had a hip hop festival, and we booked Shriver months in advance - but then the administration realized that there was supposed to be some kind of alumni event there, and they kicked us out," Geffner-Mihlsten said.
The Center is set to re-open at 3505 N. Charles St. - currently home to the Science and Technology Center - in about three years, either at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester or during the following January Intersession period, according to Katrina McDonald, the newly appointed associate dean for multicultural affairs.
Henry Hopkins said that 3505 is an ideal location because it is in close proximity to the Interfaith Center and first-year housing, and because it has a house-like, relaxing atmosphere that will hopefully encourage closeness.
Until the transition, students will be able to meet at an interim facility located in the Homewood Apartments building. The opening date has not been announced, but McDonald said that they plan to open the facility within the next three months.
Use of the Center will not be restricted to members of multicultural groups; Rather, it will be open to all Hopkins students.
"We hope that every kind of student that attends Hopkins will be utilizing that Center at some point," McDonald said.
In function, the Center will be similar to the Bunting-Meyerhoff Interfaith and Community Service Center, a place where students of all faiths are welcome. McDonald called the Interfaith Center their "closest model."
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