MRC riddled with difficulties

The past year's restructuring of the staff and administration of the Multicultural Resource Center seems to have reached a hiatus, and many students are concerned.

"The administrations' reluctance to instigate these changes is just a further demonstration of their lack of regard for students of color," said junior Anne Gadwa.

According to Ntombi Peters, program coordinator of the MRC, the changes that were instituted had less to do with a conscious decision than with an inevitable series of events.

In the summer of 1998, Ken Holmes, director of the MRC, and Julia Nieves, assistant dean of student affairs, left Oberlin to fill positions elsewhere. Shilpa Davé, who was named interim Director of the MRC, left this summer, along with four community coordinators.

"The way the MRC was set up in this incarnation four years ago, there were four community coordinators, two associate deans and one assistant dean. The assistant dean at the time, Ken Holmes, was also named director of the MRC in the fall of 1996," said Peters.

After taking his position this summer as the new Dean of Students, Peter Goldsmith found that he was left with some personnel challenges.

By August, two of the four coordinators had yet to be hired, leaving the MRC lacking three positions. The offices have also reported financial difficulties.

"There must be money in the College somewhere if they have money to change our ID system, change the registration system and put useless iMacs in Mudd," feels senior K.T. Shorb. There must be money somewhere and I think that this is a good place to put it."

Peters and fellow community coordinator Michelle Shim were among those who left this summer. In order to keep from being too short-staffed, Goldsmith worked with Peters and Shim to see if there were any circumstances under which they would return. They have returned, although in enhanced positions, which include responsibilities in the direction of the MRC.

In regards to the applicant search, Peters said, "We had already been on a search for four community coordinators because all four of us were moving on. There was a need for some sort of continuity with the MRC. Michelle Shim and I were asked to take positions as Program Coordinators."

The MRC currently has two program coordinators and two community coordinators. This hiring decision was brought about by circumstance and is not the ideal structure for the future. Peters said that the Center underwent a lengthy search process that is currently on hold. The MRC agreed to hire a LGBTU and a Latino/a Coordinator, but currently has no coordinators for the APA and the Africana communities.

"I think it's really unacceptable that there aren't community coordinators and that it's gone this far without any signs of immediate action," Shorb said. "I just don't see how the administration cannot see how there is a correlation between facilities such as the MRC and the retention of students of color."

As to how the re-staffing that has currently taken place will affect the future of the MRC, Peters said, "The MRC has been through a lot of different structures. This one seems to be the most stable because the Center is in its fourth year, but it still lacks stable leadership."

Yvan Greenberg, Conservatory junior, feels that "It's very, very obvious that the administration doesn't care very much right now about the emotional, psychological and social well-being of the students, which is reflected in the handling of the MRC right now. They are much more interested in constructing an image will increase their standing in the U.S. News and World Report."

"I don't necessarily disagree with the institutions' desire to get money," commented college junior Eli Wheeler. "But increasingly the way the money is being spent only reflects the needs of the majority group in the student body at the expense of minority groups in the student body."

Goldsmith intends to spend time examining the MRC, and although there may be ways of restructuring it, he has no plans to do so right now. He said "I am looking at creative ways to make certain the MRC follows through on all its responsibilities to students and the broader community."