UC Merced Cultural Center Guidelines
Pillars
Standing commitment to social justice education & training, coalition building, collective healing and scholar advocacy
Objective of Space
We want this to be a space in which historically and continually marginalized students of color, which include their intersectional identities as womxn, income-insecure, LGBTQ+, non-binary, gender non-conforming, differently abled-bodied, international, immigrant, non-traditional students, etc. can feel safe expressing themselves, their lived experiences, knowledges, without being the target the oppression.
We commit to remaining conscious of our own positionality in this space.
MUTLICULTURAL CENTER HXSTORY & STUDENT VOICE
“Individually we are a drop, but together, we are an ocean."
~Ryunosuke Satoro
“A week after the November 4, 2015 incident students came together at the Students of Color Conference in Berkeley and began conversations on the necessity of our campus having safespaces for marginalized identity communities (of color, LGBTQPIA+, etc.) to go to in times of crisis.” (Facebook page of the Intercultural HUB at UCMerced)
In collaboration with ASUCM External Office, Student of Color Conference participants, numerous focus groups, surveys and outreach, a temporary space was allocated, on March 20th. The temporary space, named The *Intercultural Hub, had its grand opening to the campus community having various students of color, multicultural student organization leaders and faculty shared the critical importance of a gathering space dedicated to the values of social justice, education, coalition building and collective healing.
Not only has the Intercultural hub serve as a safe space for marginalized communities during times of crisis but it has also been a place for student life to flourish. Many student groups have made it their home away from home and found community in this space. These communities have had each others’ back and have come together to tackle issues that have risen over time. Through this space, students have been able to meet with other students from different backgrounds to learn and understand each other.
This is all thanks to the hard and tireless labor of student leaders, activist and pioneers. Without their passion for equality and equity, this would not have been possible.
STUDENT ACTIVISM
Through the commitment, passion and dedication of womxn of color, students of color, queer/trans people of color and advocates, the University of California, Merced welcomes the Multicultural Center located in the Kolligian Library 169 centering the values of social justice, education, coalition building and collective healing.
