MRC moves and hires four new interns

Office also has increased budget

After a year of transition and debate, when the structure, staffing and mission of the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) was discussed and changed, the center has moved to a centralized location in Wilder Hall and restructured the administrative team.

These changes include the addition of new assistant dean of Student Life, Shilpa Dave, and four new interns. The center also has an increased budget.

The new interns are Adrian Bautista, Latino Intern, Diedre Wells, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Intern, Narges Kakalia, Asian-American Intern and Brian Williams, African-American Intern. All the interns are recent Oberlin graduates. `

The system of having interns represent particular campus constituencies is a return to the system used in the now defunct Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), an office which was disbanded last year by Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk after her arrival.

The MRC was created by Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk in 1995, after she eliminated the OMA. Cole-Newkirk hoped to create a more unified and organized approach to the multicultural ideas and needs of the school.

Last year, when the office was restructured and moved, some students complained that they weren't consulted in the decision making.

Julia Nieves, assistant dean of students and co-supervisor of the MRC, feels that the center's new location goes hand-in-hand with these staffing changes. "Since we are looking to have the MRC be more student oriented, the central location of Wilder is really wonderful," Nieves said.

Nieves cites that one of the main reasons for the move was to be more accessible and comfortable to students. "It is a very student centered place. It should be a place where students come hang out," she said.

Both Nieves and Dave stress the importance of student involvement with the MRC. "Student involvement is key," Dave said. "The MRC is a resource center for the students."

Nieves now splits the supervising responsibilities of the MRC with new assistant dean Dave. Dave and Nieves both supervise the four interns. Nieves says joint responsibility makes things run much more smoothly.

The administrators of the MRC are pushing for the center to be a visible part of campus this year. "With the increased budget and the full support from President Dye, we really have our priorities set," Nieves said. She said that the center would not be so strong if it were not for the strong support of the administration and the importance multicultural affairs are given at Oberlin.