MSA committee works to include BCC on tours

Including the BCC would show students the facility is for everyone.

By Jessi Turnure

Published March 2, 2010

The Missouri Students Association Multicultural Issues Committee is speaking with Tour Team about including the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center as a stop on campus tours.

"The Black Culture Center is a campus resource center for everyone," Multicultural Issues Committee Chairwoman Alex Holley said.

Holley said the center accommodates the entire campus with its kitchen, computer lab and meeting room and also contains many historical aspects, such as its name, which comes from a black law student who mysteriously disappeared before he began classes at MU.

"The Black Culture Center is such a staple for social and educational events," Legion of Black Collegians Vice President Lisa White said. "It's a powerful institution, prime location, and most schools do not have one of this magnitude and influence."

Because the project is in its beginning stages, the committee has not been able to speak with many people yet, Holley said.

The only people they have contacted so far were Black Culture Center Director Nathan Stephens and Visitor Relations Coordinator LeAnn Stroupe. No agreements have been made.

"The Multicultural Issues Committee really wants to work with Tour Team," Holley said. "If we start with people who are fresh to the campus with no preconceived notions, then hopefully they will accept and be comfortable with the fact that the Black Culture Center is for everyone."

A tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and showcases the important landmarks around campus, including Francis Quadrangle, a residence hall and a classroom, all inside a certain set of boundaries.

"The Black Culture Center is for everyone but has not been included in the route like many other important buildings because of time, logistics and weather," Stroupe said. "There is no way to physically show all facets of the campus, but if the visitors have any questions, the guides are educated about all aspects."

Tour Team does not script its tour guides, which gives them creative control over some of the sites they show and the personal experiences they share with visitors, Stroupe said.

Stroupe said if families want to see other parts of the campus post tour, the guides would either give them contact information or escort them to the place they wish to see.

"My job is two-fold: expose prospective students to campus and give them enough information about it to make an informed decision and train guides so their job is comfortable and informed," Stroupe said.

Tour Team brings in speakers from various sites around campus to train and educate the guides on different subjects and issues such as diversity and multiculturalism, which are always briefly discussed during tours.

Holley said the Multicultural Issues Committee wants to work with the Tour Team to include the Black Culture Center in order to end various misconceptions about it existing solely as a place for minorities.

"It's not the only building that we think should be included on tour, but it's a starting point," Holley said. "It's very historical, has lots of meaning and not many other campuses have a building like this."