Steven Bartkoski

Provost David Shulenburger delivers a speech with Santos Nunez, program director for the Multicultural Resource Center, yesterday afternoon in the Kansas Union at the dedication of the new Multicultural Resource Center. They spoke at the dedication about securing the center’s new location.

Since 1995 the Multicultural Resource Center has operated out of a building commonly known as “The Shack.” The deteriorating white building gets lost between Summerfield Hall and the Military Science Building, leading some to remark that it reflects poorly on the University’s objective to create a more diverse campus.

But by Fall 2006, the center will have a prominent new home. Students and other supporters of the MRC came together yesterday to dedicate the site of that new home. The MRC will move into an addition to the Kansas Union, which will be built on on the north side by the parking garage.

Though weather prevented the ceremony from taking place outside, supporters filled the Malott Room on the sixth floor of the Union.

Provost David Shulenburger said the location for the new center was appropriate.

“The Union is the heart of the University,” he said.

The ceremony was used as a way to recognize the dedication put in by faculty and staff. But the students involved in the creation of the new MRC received special recognition.

“It’s not to celebrate the building,” said Jonathan Ng, first-year law student from Leawood. “It’s to recognize the MRC’s vision.”

Ng was student body president in 2002 and 2003 and helped approve the referendum to fund the new building without raising student fees.

Constructing the new MRC will cost about $2.5 million. Construction is being financed through donations.

Building a new MRC is something Santos Nunez has wanted since she became the director in 2000.

She fought back tears as she began the “calling the circle” ceremony. Creating a circle were members of the Black Student Union, Asian Student Union, Hispanic American Leadership Organization, First Nations Student Association and Student Senate. The students held objects symbolizing earth, wind, water and fire.

Nunez told about the creation and history of the MRC during the ceremony and officially dedicated the site by saying, “Now the MRC will begin again.”

Catherine Bell supported the referendum while she was a student senator at the University. Now Bell, a Coffeyville first-year law student, is helping the building come together as a member of the building committee.

“We have the resources, we have the knowledge and we have the goals,” she said. “Now we need the new structure to increase student involvement.”

Some features to be included in the new MRC include a bigger lounge area, two general purpose rooms, a kitchen and a large multipurpose room that will face the Spencer Art Museum and Memorial Stadium.

The official ground-breaking will take place this fall.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in September 2006.