Enhancing your college experience
It is important and imperative
that the experiences a student en
counters on a college or university
campus reflect, at least in part, what
is actually happening in the "real
world." The collegiate experience
must not become an escape for
students from the realities that they
will face after their college days are
over. The basic equation for suc
cess here is quite simple: STUDENT
+ EXPERIENCES - EDUCATION.
The bottom line is that in the
decade of the 1990s and ultimately
the 21st century, colleges and uni
versities must do a better job of
providing experiences for students,
which help them to develop intel
lectually and mature socially. These
experiences must help students to
understand not only what it means
to work in the world, but also what
it means to live in the world. This is
imperative to race relations.
For the last five years, the office
of the vice chancellor for student
affairs has sponsored a cultural di
versity retreat. The Racial Pluralism
Action Team, an advisory group to
the vice chancellor for stuefent
affairs,has co-sponsored the last
two. Participants who are Univer
sity of Nebraska-Lincoln students,
staff and faculty, take part in exer
cises and interactive discussions
which seek to bring to light the
reality of prejudice, stereotypes,
discrimination and other tenets of
racism at the retreat.
Many of the participants gain
valuable leadership experience, as
well as an understanding of their
own role in the struggle to combat
racial prejudice, discrimination and
ignorance. •
On April 3, RPAT and the office
for the vice chancellor for student
affairs will sponsor the first annual
Diversity Mini-Conference, a fol
low-up to the fifth diversity retreat.
The theme of the mini-conference
is, “In Search of a Better Under
standing."
This full day of interactive work
shops and panel discussions will
serve as a way of reaching out to a
larger audience than would nor
mally be reached through a retreat.
The mini-conference will seek to
challenge UNL, the greater city of
Lincoln, and surrounding commu
nities to discuss and confront those
racial issues which are critical to the
future of ou r country and the world.
The mini-conference is free and
open to the public.
The challenge for RPAT and the
diversity effort at UNL is not to
reach those individuals who seek
out the greater understanding of
people and cultures that are dilfer
ent. But rather to reach those indi
viduals who really do not under
stand what it means to reach out
side their race or culture.
The reality of my job is that most
people do not understand that de
mographically, Lincoln is changing
—Nebraska is changing—and this
country is, and will continue to
change. People do not understand
that racial prejudice, discrimination,
bigotry, and its other hideous part
ners in crime are everywhere. My
job is to get people to understand
the realities of racism in America
and ofTer th&following challenge:
About racism, you can think about
it, yop can talk about it or you can
do something about it. It’s up to
you.
John Harris is the special assistant to the
vice chancellor for student affairs.
Robin Trimarchi/DN
John Harris
Office provides opportunities
Involvement is plus for students
The many programs and events
held at UNL are generally directed
through one office, the Office for
Student Involvement located on
the second floor of the Nebraska
Union.
Many students found out about
the SI Office when they first stepped
foot on campus, through the New
Student Enrollment Program. And
while other students may know
little about this office, it has been
their silent friend.
Formerly called the Campus Ac
tivities and Programs Office, the
new name was created last year in
efforts to adequ a tely reflea its ma i n
goals and objectives, its director,
Marilyn Bugenhagen said.
“The purpose of the Office for
Student Involvement is to compli
ment the academic programs and
to enhance students’ overall educa
tional experience," Bugenhagen
said.
Linda Morgan, who has known
the office since before its name
change, said the office offered many
activities and opportunities for stu
dents.
Morgan is publications assistant
for the Culture Center, a facility
used by students and student orga
nizations through the SI Office.
"The Culture Center is a place
where you can gel away," she said.
“After you’ve been on campus all
day long, it provides a place of
comfort where you can relax."
Morgan said the SI Office could
provide information to students
who wanted to get involved on
campus.
^1 participate on campusbecause
it makes me feelgood to know that
I’m making a difference in the lives
of students," she said.
Morgan is a junior broadcasting
major, African American Special
Events co-chair and treasurer of the
Afrikan People’s Union.
Cathy Maestas, a iu nior majoring
in Spanish and main in the l each
ers College, became involved on
campus as a mentor,• through the
Odyssey Program, a part olthe SI
Office.
“I wanted a chance to get to
know other students and to help
them to become more involved and
to develop their leadership skills,"
she said.
Maestas, a member of the 1993
94 Mortar Board, treasurer for the
Mexican-Amcrican Student Asso
ciation, and reservations assistant
at the Culture Center, said she also
took part in the American Racial
Minority Student Program (A. R. M.S.)
as a freshman.
"It helped me to find out about
the different activities and organi
zations on campus, that I could get
involved with,” Maestas said. “It
even helped me to find out more
about myself—aualiliesthatl had,
and how I could develop those
qualities.”
Maestas, who is a former chair
person ofChicanoSpecial Events, a
part ofthe University ProgramCoun
cil, said getting involved with the
different campus activities
benefitted students.
“Once you gel involved, people
start to recognize your name —
people sla rl comi ng to you," Maestas
said.
Bugenhagcn said one main rea
son students should becomefamiliar
with theSI Office was becauselhcir
student fees paid for it.
“It would be very beneficial for
students to utilize its services," she
said. “rl"hc SI Office helps students
to round out their life experience
while in college.
“By gelling involved, I know
that I’ve made a difference — I’ve
given something, even if it only
affected one person," Maestas said
Kimberly Spurlock is a Junior broadcast
ing, news-editorial and English major
and Diversions editor.
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