Multicultural Resource Center

Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) launches the Interfaith Meditation and Prayer Room

This fall, the MRC officially opened its interfaith meditation and prayer room to support students of all religious denominations. The Meditation and Prayer Room, a safe, free zone for all who wish to use it, has served 80 students, faculty and staff during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Creation and launch of Glenn G. Bartle Library tabling and posting for student organizations

The MRC convened and worked with a host of campus stakeholders in early fall to expand official tabling and posting opportunities into the Glenn G. Bartle Library breezeway. Campus departments, student organizations and community partners can now make use of eight new tabling spaces, display materials in the library tombs or post information on either the public posting boards or in special, locked display cases. The addition of these new spaces meets the MRC’s campus commitment of providing space for students and student organizations.

Since the launch of the new tabling opportunity, the MRC has processed 231 requests, with only 17 cancellations.

MRC signature events

During the fall, the MRC hosted a number of large-scale events to serve the campus community, including:

• The MRC and the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development hosted the Alumni of Color Career and Networking Social on Friday, Oct. 5, in the Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The event was an invitation to students and alumni to congregate and have an opportunity to talk about job opportunities and to network and socialize. This event was held before the Black Student Union Annual Fashion Show and Banquet and drew about 30 attendees.
  
• The MRC co-sponsored a free, private, midnight screening of The Hate You Give at the Regal Cinemas in Binghamton on Oct. 18, that drew 205 attendees.
  
• The MRC co-sponsored a Mid-semester New Student of Color Networking event Oct. 26, in collaboration with the Student Affairs Divisional Diversity and Inclusion Committee, for students to continue forming positive relationships with faculty and staff. The event also provided an opportunity for students to de-stress while meeting staff from various offices within the Division of Student Affairs.
  
• The MRC hosted two Culture at Chenango events in collaboration with Binghamton University Dining Services this fall. The Turkish Edition was held Oct. 27, and was co-sponsored by the Turkish Student Organization with support from Dual Degree Programs. The Vegan Edition was held Nov. 17, with vegan recipes from students and the Food Co-op team.
  
• A Day of Absence was held Nov. 5, in honor of Black Solidarity Day. The day provided a visual flag display in honor of black lives lost due to police violence, in addition to a short program honoring the 49-year history of Black Solidarity Day and the importance of unity.
  
• The MRC, Q Center and Hillel co-sponsored speaker Joy Ladin, a Jewish trans-woman, widely published essayist, poet and literary scholar on Nov. 10.
  
• The MRC hosted the 4th Annual Unity Tree Lighting and De-Stress Fest this December to provide students an opportunity to de-stress during the hectic final exam period. De-stress Fest, held Dec. 4, featured yoga sessions, teas from around the world, a Glee Club performance, board games and more. The Unity Tree Lighting was held Dec. 6. The MRC also extended its hours of operation to allow students to access the MRC Lounge area to study for finals.
  

MRC grants and collaborations

The MRC provided 13 grant and collaboration opportunities to cultural student organizations and campus departments for a total of $4,360 during the fourth quarter of 2018. Several requests were declined due to budget constraints. MRC grant and collaboration funding will be significantly reduced in the upcoming quarters due to departmental and campus-wide budget constraints.

MRC department operations

At the start of the fall semester, the MRC lost its full-time TIP coordinator and secretary and is operating with minimal staff as a result of the postponement of hiring an assistant director. To ensure students can be supported, the MRC graduate assistants and student managers are providing coverage and helping to oversee MRC daily operations with supervision from the MRC associate director. Additionally, the diversity fellow position became vacant Nov. 20, as Jose Maldonado accepted a position in Connecticut. This diversity fellow position will not be replaced immediately as the University’s hiring hold took effect Nov. 16.

The MRC Distinguished Speakers Series

Tanyah Barnes, associate director, helped launch the distinguished speakers series on Binghamton University’s campus. The MRC hosted an inaugural event with Bo Burnham at the Osterhout Concert Theater in the Anderson Center, which sold out in less than one day.