Multicultural Resource Center activities
In efforts to support Binghamton University’s increasingly diverse campus population and Road Map Strategic Priority 3, the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) expanded and relocated into a newly renovated space in Glenn G. Bartle Library this fall. MRC’s new home at Library South Ground 500 (LS-G500) is conveniently located directly downstairs from the Greek-lettered organizational flags above the center stairway in Bartle Library. The new ocation also includes increased space for enhanced services and support to the cultural community.
The new MRC location provides professional staff office space, a student-staff work area, a breakroom plus a large lounge, conference room, graduate assistant office space, interfaith meditation and prayer room, a resource room and student organization office space. These new facilities allow the MRC to provide safe spaces for students to create community and host smaller meetings, programs and events while also allowing cultural student organizations and campus departments to reserve the space. The MRC’s new resource room houses services such as large-format printing, faxing, button making, balloons and helium, brochure-making and more – all available for cultural student organizations to access. These services are available at competitive cost to ensure continued access.
The new interfaith meditation and prayer room supports campus Healthy Campus Initiative goals and provides a formal space on campus to support the mental and spiritual needs for our religious community. Additionally, the MRC has revived its resource library where students can check out books, magazines and inclusive activity games! MRC’s resource library will mainly include culturally contemporary, trade and novelty material that is not available in the Binghamton Libraries. Students, faculty and staff can make recommendations and donations of materials to add to the library. Lastly, the MRC’s staff is also expanding. New student managers were added to our staff in October while the MRC anticipates a new secretary to be hired in January 2018.