After a year of effort the diversity council is stuck at a stand still

The Associated Student Government and the Diversity Council have kicked off the new school year by advocating a new diversity focus for MHCC.
The “Diversity Resource Center” is one project in particular that ASG has supporting.

The diversity center is something that ASG and the Diversity Council have had in the works for over a year now and made significant steps last year by drafting numerous proposals to provide funding and space for the center.
“It really picked up steam after winter term,” said Bryan Ardell, who was a member of last year’s Diversity Council and one of the founders of the center idea.

“Once winter term hit, direction crystallized clearly,” he said.
William Miller, who is the ASG director of diversity, said that though nothing has yet been confirmed and it is unknown when a center might open, they will continue to discuss the plan as the year progresses.

As to the purposes of the center and what it would provide students, Ardell said, “Initially, it was to provide a safe place for underrepresented students to relax. Now we think it will also be a resource hub for them to utilize.”

“We’re hoping to have some place on campus where people of any ethnicity can feel comfortable,” he said.

Ardell was personally fond of that aspect. “As of the majority, I would like to expand my knowledge of other groups and cultures.”
Miller said, “It would allow them to come in and get resources and information in regards to diversity on campus and have an open library to access diversity information.”

“We’re all diverse and it’s important to include and not exclude,” said Miller.
To keep the ball rolling from last year’s progress, Ardell, who drafted many of the proposals, said a new proposal could be presented by the end of the term.
If the diversity center is to be created, Miller said they’re thinking it would be open once a week.

Ardell is not a part of the Diversity Council, though he was asked to be the new director of diversity; he accepted at first but was later forced to step down due to time constraints.
Nonetheless, Ardell remains a helping hand in hopes to make the diversity center a reality.

“I’m just a passionate volunteer,” Ardell said. “Its something we’re all really passionate about.”
“Hopefully by the end of the term we can make a new proposal with new revisions,” said Ardell.

Finding space for the potential Diversity Resource Center has been one of the issues ASG and the Diversity Council have had problems with when proposing the idea.

“In order to make space, we have to make compromises with our other spaces,” said Ardell.

“Last year our goal was to have a space (for the center) but unfortunately that didn’t come to fruition. But we did make a lot of networks (with people) and make a lot of allies,” said Ardell.

In response to when he thinks the diversity center can be successfully created, Ardell said, “I would say our goal is always this year. To get this done as soon as we can,” though he added that there are always uncertainties.

“I almost feel like the college owes it (the center) to students,” said Ardell, “They owe it to provide students with something that really highlights and glorifies the special and amazingly diverse student body.”

In regard to who he would hope to see at the center, Williams said, “Everyone. I want to see everyone coming.”