A place to be you: MultiCulti celebrates tenth anniversary in 2017

Finally, your last class is over. You walk out of the classroom and feel the brisk air on your face—it’s a chilly day, as most have been lately—and you find yourself suddenly longing for a nameless place. It’s warm, both in terms of the thermostat and the dispositions of the people there, and it’s got a sense of comfort that can’t be described. There’s a distinct feeling in the air that you’re making a change in this world for the better. You feel like you belong there, as if you’ve found where you fit into the million-piece puzzle that is college life. For some Muhlenberg students, this place has a name: The Multicultural Center. Home to the Office of Multicultural Life (OML) and various clubs and organizations, the Multicultural Center is commemorating its tenth anniversary in 2017 with a run of MultiCulti-themed festivities.

The first event will be a Celebration and Open House on Jan. 19, which Director Robin Riley-Casey hopes will form the basis for the rest of the year’s engaging and open discussions on a wide range of topics.

“The Celebration will be a part of semester-long programming which will address acts of intolerance [and] unjust practices while proposing alternatives to build engaged, justice-focused communities,” Riley-Casey said.

Though next semester will certainly turn a spotlight onto the Center, its fundamental impact on the students who go there, like Celeny Acosta, ‘20, is by no means exclusive to only half of the year.

“I know that [the Multicultural Center] has a beautiful history of providing a safe space where students of color can be themselves--without judgement, but instead with lots of love,” said Acosta. “The Multicultural Center has always been open to me, and I know that regardless of how I feel, or what mental space I am in that day, I can go to the center for quiet solace or warm interactions with others.”

Even before classes started this semester, the Center came alive. Welcoming newcomers such as Asherde Gill, ‘20, it provided a safe and encouraging environment for students to start the year on a high note.

“The Multicultural Center created the Emerging Leaders program, which was the first experience that I had here at Muhlenberg,” Gill said. “I arrived at Muhlenberg College a week early and was prepared for the rigorous schedule that I would have at Muhlenberg by professors who wanted to see me succeed. Settling into college was a lot easier because I had the Multicultural Center and all of the friends I made through the center supporting me.” Throughout their time on campus, students who visit the Center can count on it for a refreshing break from the rigors of the world they live in, even if it’s just for a few shared hours of commiseration with a friend like Acosta.

“[Having the Center on campus] means that I am welcomed and wanted, in a society where that may not always be the case,” said Acosta. “There are a few stories I can tell, but I will keep it down to one. Caribbean Night was hosted at MultiCulti, and it was an experience. They had delicious food in the kitchen, and music and dancing in the living room area. I took a little time to warm up, but eventually I felt comfortable enough to dance, laugh, and just be in the moment. It was a lot of fun, and I am glad something like that was organized for everybody.”

Gill shares this sense of relief that comes along with having a place to let go of outside pressures and problems.

“The Multicultural Center is a home away from home for me. Whenever I am feeling stressed or like the environment at Muhlenberg is too much for me to handle, I can always go back there and breathe,” Gill said. “I want to say thank you to Robin Casey and everyone at the Multicultural Center who have created a home for students to come to and be free. All of the bags that we carry throughout the day immediately drop the moment that we enter the space.”

After the initial celebration, the Center will host a Social Justice Roundtable on Feb. 4, an Alliance Week on Feb. 14-17, and the inauguration of a new initiative called the Revolutionary Book Reading in the new year. Be sure to look out for ongoing campus life programming with a focus on transforming all of this new dialogue into action.

Whether or not you’ve ever ventured to the Multicultural Center, take a walk down Chew Street and explore its rich past and vibrant present during this exciting semester. Who knows? You might even find a whole new family along the way.