By Dennis O’Neil And Thompson Perry
As the University of Louisville opens its new cultural center on July 1, several jobs in the office of Multicultural Academic Enrichment Programs will fall by the wayside.
According to Vice President for Communications and Marketing John Drees, the new center will serve as an upgrade to MAEP, located inside the Office of Minority Affairs, and its employees will be removed from their positions. Drees said these employees will have to reapply for jobs within the university.
However, some within MAEP and OMA weren’t too pleased with the proposed changes.
According to acting Association of Black Students President Demetrius Gray, MAEP/OMA employees disagreed with the changes and walked out of a meeting with students, as well as Mordean Taylor-Archer, the vice provost for diversity at U of L.
According to Gray, the decision to close the center and remove the employees from their positions stems from the university’s desire to improve service quality.
“Dr. Taylor-Archer said this decision stems from something that has happened over several years time, with students simply not being served in the best way,” Gray said. “At that meeting, many students were in agreement with this.”
MAEP and OMA employees declined to comment about this situation, and Taylor-Archer was unavailable for comment. Gray said that he appreciates this decision though, saying he admires the university for trying to improve its services.
“As the needs of students change, it is sometimes necessary to change the way we do things,” Gray, a sophomore accounting and finance major, said. “It is a good sign that the university is becoming more progressive and will evolve its services.”
Some in the student body have expressed concern about what the closing of MAEP will mean for minority students.
“That building has been a hub for a lot of African American organizations on campus,” said Student Government Association Services Vice President Rudy Spencer. “So now that things are going to be restructured, I’m a little concerned about whether or not these organizations will still have some place to meet.”
A recent press release from the university stated that the new center will encompass all aspects of diversity while remaining firmly committed to African American students. Taylor-Archer expressed her own optimism about the potential of the new center in the release.
“The cultural center will be a hub and resource to build an inclusive and welcoming campus community that embraces diversity, justice, opportunity and respect for cultural heritages,” said Taylor-Archer.
The press release also said the new center will also serve as a hub for multicultural student organizations. Furthermore, it will provide programs with chances to engage the campus community and aid with multicultural interactions between campus members.
“This is the kind of stuff we need more of [at U of L],” said junior philosophy major Sandra Tune. “People can’t improve and grow unless they have the opportunities. This is a great opportunity that the university is providing.”
For Taylor-Archer, the new center is just another in a long history of diversity initiatives made by the university.
“U of L has a rich history dating back to Louisville Municipal College,” said Taylor-Archer. “We recognize and respect the historical significance of organizations such as the Black Affairs Committee and the Office of Minority Affairs and the efforts they have made over the years. We want to build on this rich legacy.”
Tune said she feels the new cultural center is something that can benefit everyone on campus.
“I see how this new center could benefit everyone at U of L, not just those [in the minority],” said Tune. “Different people could gain different things from it, but that’s what diversity is all about.”
