Multicultural event to be held to celebrate diversity
Central Michigan University’s Multicultural Academic Student Services will host a Multicultural Celebratory Event at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 8, in the Bovee University Center Auditorium for class of 2015 spring and summer graduates.
The purpose of the multicultural celebratory is to acknowledge, celebrate and honor the graduating class for its dedication to enhancing diversity throughout campus. The Multicultural Celebratory is not an actual graduation ceremony, but an event to promote diversity.
The MASS office is a unit of the Center for Inclusion and Diversity and is located in the UC Traci Guinn, the director of the MASS office, said her job is to make sure students have the proper mindset and resources to succeed.
“Our office is primarily looked at as a home away from home for students,” Guinn said. “There are students who come here who are uncomfortable being on campus because they don’t know anyone and are not familiar with the university. We provide a smiling face, warm hug and space where students can come in and feel comfortable.”
The office educates students on diversity through a series of cultural events throughout the school year. D’Wayne Jenkins, assistant director of MASS, said these programs are an integral part of promoting diversity.
“These programs allow students to learn more about other cultures and help them to become well-rounded students,” Jenkins said.
One of the events MASS office enjoys most is seeing students in their Multicultural Celebratory, Gunn said.
“Success for us is seeing students come into CMU as freshmen or transfer students and leave as a graduate,” Guinn said. “We know we have succeeded when we see students accomplishing their goals, representing the university well, and becoming diversity champions by sharing everything they have learned at CMU with others.”
The office sponsors Hispanic Heritage Month, Martin Luther King Jr. Week, Black History Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
The MASS office houses the Multicultural Advancement and Cofer scholarship program offered to incoming freshman. MAC scholars live in Troutman Hall and are assisted with peer advisors and tutors.
Detroit alumna Tamika Williams was a MAC scholar for four years, and now serves as a graduate assistant in the MASS Office.
“The MASS office always felt like a home environment, so having that support system of people that you could just come in and talk to really was helpful,” Williams said. “Through that support it encouraged us to try new things, and they were there to look at resumes or give advice.”
Mentoring and volunteer work is a prominent part of the MASS office. The office is sponsors two mentoring programs: Women’s Initiative of Strength and Hope, and Men About Change.
Men About Change hosted a group of 20 high school juniors from Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit earlier this month. The young men were given workshops, college tours and were able to stay in the dorms to learn about the college experience.
