Two seniors seek MCC director job

By Natasha Lindstrom

After starting the fall quarter without a director, concerned members from the Multicultural Center heard two director candidates discuss their platforms at an open forum held Wednesday afternoon.

The candidates, Eric Deanda and Judy Kuo, will next be interviewed by the MCC Executive Board in a closed meeting today at 8 p.m. Board members will vote on the MCC Director next Thursday.

Kuo, a senior accounting major, has been actively involved with the MCC since her freshman year.

"When I first came to campus, the people in the MCC were the first people to reach out to me," said Kuo, who was co-chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union last year.

Deanda, a senior marketing major, also joined the MCC his freshman year, and last year he served as co-chair of MEChA-El Frente.

Both Kuo and Deanda served as MCC Executive Board members during their sophomore years.

As director, Deanda said he would encourage more effective inter-club communication within the MCC.

"Each club tends to get wrapped up in its own thing," said Deanda. "I'd like to see unity within the MCC as a complete organization improve."

Kuo said one area she would like to focus on is recruiting new members, from both the pool of prospective freshmen and the current student body.

"For the MCC to grow and continue to thrive, we do need fresh faces, new people and new ideas," said Kuo.

Deanda also stressed the need to reach out to the rest of the student body and attract new members through collaborative events with other student organizations.

Kuo said she offers skills in leadership, organization and planning to the position, while Deanda said his strengths include his enthusiasm and his passion for the MCC.

Neither candidate had planned on running for director until early this quarter.

The MCC Executive Board must come to a two-thirds consensus in order to hire the director.

Should a consensus be reached next week, the new MCC Director will assume his or her position Oct. 22.

Contact Natasha Lindstrom at (408) 554-4546 or nlindstrom@scu.edu.