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Multicultural students receive opportunity for support group |
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Tuesday, 19 February 2008 |
 | Pena
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by ERICA DURHAM
Intern News Reporter
Beginning Tuesday, students with a multicultural background now have a place to speak out about being on a predominately white campus.
“I hope to create a space to be comfortable in, to talk about day to day things,” Assistant Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership Augusto E. Pena said.
The Multicultural Center and the Counseling Center have come together to offer a Multicultural Support Group.
“It
is a place for students of a multicultural background to find support
and connection,” said Lori L. Daniel, a psychologist in the counseling
center.
Daniel and Pena will lead the group.
“I think we miss a lot of what goes on [in the day to day]. [Students]
attend meetings and volunteer and attend lectures. We don’t get to know
the day-to-day relationships,” Pena said.
The group meets every Tuesday at the Multicultural Center in Plemmons Student Union from noon to 1 p.m.
“I’m hopeful to see students that aren’t involved with groups. We will
see students we do advise more casually where they can talk about how
their day went being a multicultural student in a predominantly white
campus,” Pena said.
The group is open to any student on campus.
“Any student who comes from a multicultural background [can
participate] - someone who is underrepresented on campus,” Daniel said.
“Being from an underrepresented group on campus can be somewhat
isolating. It is to connect with others from similar backgrounds and
offer support in a unique way,” Daniel said.
Pena said it is important to have as many different opportunities on campus as possible.
“We are excited about new ways to reach out. We have clubs but we are
taking a different approach. We wanted an [opportunity for]
interpersonal relationship that deals with more daily leadership,” Pena
said.
The groups will address issues that affect students most.
“It is a free and open place to converse, laugh, talk, and share issues that come up often for students,” Daniel said.
Pena said e-mails were sent out to students in the multicultural groups
and there are advertisements through the counseling center.
“I hope students will see the folks from the Multicultural Center as
very accessible and willing to listen to things that are not
club-related. I want them to see us as genuinely interested in their
daily lives,” Pena said.
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