Four Front to create list of goals

The organization addressed inclusive department titles at Tuesday’s meeting.

By Erica Zucco

Published Feb. 1, 2008

This semester, Four Front will compose a list of goals and objectives tentatively titled “Steps Towards Cultural Competence.” Four Front Chairwoman Bria Scudder said that for now, the list is just a concept, but in time will be a written document.

“We’re currently working with the Vice Provost (of Undergraduate Studies Jim Spain) on having a mandatory — or at least some sort of — diversity class for students to take,” Scudder said. This objective is also one of the goals on the Legion of Black Collegians’ List of Demands, a compilation of 10 demands for MU that LBC presented to Chancellor Brady Deaton in March 2005.

Scudder also mentioned finding an alternative name for the new student center. Students said they opposed naming the new student center after Thomas A. Brady, based on the belief that some of his actions were racist and homophobic.

Four Front continues to work on ensuring class and department titles are all-inclusive. Classes such as Japanese and Korean are listed under the Department of German and Russian Studies; Four Front is attempting to change the department title to mention Asian studies.

At Tuesday’s Four Front meeting, Scudder also discussed the creation and development of Four Front committees and upcoming events concerning minority organizations.

The group discussed creating several committees in order to accomplish more through increased organization and enhanced efficiency. One committee will assist smaller minority organizations in achieving their goals and objectives, and newer organizations in growing and becoming well-known. A committee dedicated to events and co-programming will aid in planning diversity-related events and organization of activities across the groups Four Front includes. A third committee will focus attention toward the production and execution of the Steps Towards Cultural Competence. LBC Vice President Porscha Kirkwood said she supported including nonexecutive members of Four Front member organizations in the committees.

“I just put in the idea for these committees Tuesday, and people put their names in for interest,” Scudder said.

The group also discussed that former Four Front Co-Chairman Charlie Calvin will no longer be involved with the organization as he is not attending MU this semester.

Future events Four Front members discussed at the meeting included Islam Awareness Week in March, Asian American Association week in April, a diversity summit and a fashion show to be held at Memorial Union by the South Asian Students Association. LBC discussed their upcoming conferences, including a Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government at Oklahoma State.