Multicultural Center to receive space after months-long struggle
By Erin Chambers
After weeks of negotiating, the Multicultural Center finally reached a compromise last week with university officials to remodel their offices in Shapell Lounge, the building located across from the campus bookstore.
"We still have to work out a long term plan, but this compromise, with input from both perspectives, is the best compromise at the moment," MCC Director Manuel Perez said.
The issue of space in Shapell began last year, but intensified last month when the MCC accepted its ninth resident student organization, the Arab Cultural Society, but claimed a lack of adequate space for the club to operate.
The university denied initial requests by the MCC to expand, maintaining that additional space in the building was designated as a lounge for commuter students.
"The redesign of the MCC space will provide space for each of the resident clubs, and meets the needs expressed by the MCC leaders," Jeanne Rosenberger, dean for student life, said. "The design also maintains the lounge space within Shapell."
Created in a series of meetings between Perez, the Office of Student Life and a university architect, the new design involves removing significant portions of existing partitions to create a larger open meeting space.
Two new conference tables will occupy the new space, while eight club offices will be downsized and converted into nine cubicles along the northern wall. The current reception area will remain virtually the same.
"The process was really important in building a relationship with the administration. It was finally a compromise we both agreed on," MCC office manager and junior sociology major Erica Hernandez said.
With construction on the new office set to begin during spring break, MCC officials are now focused on packing up office and club materials and expect to receive temporary boxes and moving equipment next week.
The MCC's hopes of expanding out into Shapell Lounge weren't realized in the new plan, but students seem satisfied with the remodeling of existing offices.
"I think we won't be able to really tell until after it is finished," senior accounting major Philip Beltran said, while sitting at a table in Shapell Lounge between classes. "The design is cool, but it seems like it might be cramped. Progress is good though."
Beltran is a member of Barkada, a Filipino cultural club in the MCC.
A schematic of the new design is currently posted on a large whiteboard in the reception area of the MCC.
Rosenberger said that final cost estimates are still incomplete, but estimates total cost for the project to be in the neighborhood of $10,000.
Senior communication major Norm Malonzo, also a Barkada member, agreed with Beltran.
"At least dialogue is started," he said.
Now the MCC team is focused on getting new computers and equipment for the revamped facility. Diego Flores is in talks with Rosenberger's office about securing newer computers and furniture.
Hernandez says she is excited that the change is scheduled to happen so quickly.
"It's going to be a busy rest of the quarter," she said.