Coordinator position still empty for diversity resource center

More than a year after the MHCC Student Finance Council voted to approve funds for a campus Diversity Resource Center (DRC), there is still no coordinator hired to run the center.

During an interview in late January, Associated Student Government (ASG) President William Miller told The Advocate, “Last I heard, the job posting should be posted this week.”

Miller explained ASG’s motivation to open a DRC: “We were kind of falling behind. All other community colleges in our area had DRCs except us.”

Funds received this year by ASG, following last year’s Student Finance Council decision, were earmarked to remodel the Lake Room into a new center with new furniture and multi-media resources for students of all walks to get further in their higher education careers.

A year ago, Jackie Altamirano and Erika Molina, then ASG president and vice president, pushed hard for establishment of the DRC.

At the time, Molina said, “MHCC needs a dedicated center that will encourage greater diversity on campus and serve people of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and religions.”

According to Miller, the DRC is a completely non-discriminatory, safe place for any students to go and access resources.

“By safe, I mean a place where everyone can feel welcome. Diversity encompasses every walk of life,” says Miller.

Miller said, “Human Resources is very diligent in their process to hire someone effective” to be the coordinator. Miller said in an interview earlier this year that ASG is waiting to begin remodeling the Lake Room into the DRC until there is a coordinator hired.