Black Culture Center celebrates 10th anniversary
Faculty members hope all students will use the center.
Sept. 5, 2008
Senior Porscha Kirkwood, sophomore Alexandria Scherff and Deniece Christian serve cake and refreshments on Wednesday at the 10th anniversary celebration for the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. Following the celebration, the Legion of Black Collegians Senate convened for its first meeting of the year.
Faculty members recalled the struggle for the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center while students addressed its current and future status as a part of its tenth anniversary celebration Wednesday.
After the celebration, the Legion of Black Collegians Senate met for the first time this year.
Director Nathan Stephens said the center, which represents an African shield from an aerial view, stands as the only building on campus designed solely by black architects.
"We're not pimps, hos, thugs and gangsters," he said. "We are intelligent, beautiful, articulate people, and that's what this cultural center represents."
He said the center represents the dreams of slaves.
This dream, however, was not easy to actualize, political science professor K.C. Morrison said.
Morrison said the movement for a black culture center happened during the largest recruitment of black students in MU's history.
"We have to be responsive to their needs," he said.
He said some of the stated reasons against building the center 10 years ago revolved around the fact MU is not a predominantly black university.
"No, it's not a black university," Morrison said. "But from our perspective it's not a white one either."
Another objection 10 years ago included questions as to how the center would serve non-black students.
"Some of what we would be doing here is very important to the education of white students," Morrison said.
Stephens said more white students use the center than black students.
LBC President Anthony Martin said he would like to see more students take advantage of the center.
Martin said MU is fortunate to have this center. He said many of the colleges and universities he has visited have lesser-quality centers, or none at all.
Stephens said he hopes the center will expand.
"We hope to add an extension to the building for entrepreneurial services," he said.
These entrepreneurial services would include working with the hotel and restaurant management program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
Stephens said he would like to see a black catering business that could provide food during conferences and other conventions held on campus.
"We hope to become what we need to become to help black students specifically, but all students in general," he said.
Senior Brian Washington said that like many students, he uses the center mainly for black student organizations. As a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Alpha Phi Alpha, Washington attends many meetings at the center.
He said he would like to see students use the center and facilities for relaxing between classes in addition to meetings.
More Sept. 5, 2008 News Stories
- Black Culture Center celebrates 10th anniversary — Faculty members hope all students will use the center.
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- Security cameras installed in residence halls, MSA leaders pushing for more — More cameras will be installed as funding becomes available.
- Department of Student Communication gets new director — Porscha Kirkwood, who was Legion of Black Collegians vice president last year, accepted the position Thursday night.
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