By Paige Quiggins

 The Cultural Center at the University of Louisville is open to students of many different walks of life and seeks to provide a safe environment for diverse group engagement, discussion and socialization.
The center opened in August, 2008 and went through a series of image transformations physically and aesthetically. Previously known as the Office for Minority Affairs, the Cultural Center now has new signage on the outside and is full of bright walls and colorful artwork from the Hite Institute on the inside.
The student lounge in the center is now complete with desks, awards hung on the walls, comfortable furniture and a radio and television all available for student use.
Second-year post-baccalaureate marketing student Lamar Smith can be found there frequently. Smith said he enjoys spending time in the lounge.
“I like the student lounge, a lot of people come in here to chill between classes and it creates a cool atmosphere,” said Smith.
Smith said he and other students can enjoy the television or radio, do homework at the desks, catch a nap on the sofa or have a nice quiet place to read.
The Cultural Center’s graduate assistant Mikal Forbush said the center works with several organizations to polish leadership skills and promote healthy discussion and interaction within a diverse community.
Michael Anthony, director for the Cultural Center, said 21 organizations utilized the center in fall 2008 and all but two of the ongoing and past goals had been met.
“We collaborate to do programs with each other,” said Forbush. “The center has yet to put together a student advisory and community advisory group due to shifting of goals and objectives.”
According to Forbush, a big part of his job is helping students in resident student organizations, RSOs, and to organize events. 
Forbush said he enjoyed participating in the recent January leadership retreat for a variety of campus RSOs. The event was funded by the Association of Black Students, ABS, and members of different RSOs were able to attend the event.
“We tried to identify the attributes that each possessed both the negative and the positive; through that, you see your thinking process,” said Forbush.
Anthony said the personality assessment and team building activities encouraged the RSO leaders to continue their roles and improve their skills.
The campus climate discussion goals have been helpful, according to Forbush, and the latest panel discussion came from a graduate student concerning women’s issues.
“[The discussions] are about college issues and issues concerning different populations on campus,” said Anthony.
He explained the focus of the discussions is to engage in difficult topics regarding diversity.
Anthony said another goal is to continue to find a way to incorporate student and community conferences to find a true meaning of diversity and interaction within the community.
An additional goal for the Cultural Center was to create programs and discussions for members of different cultures, which Laine Lopez, the newest addition to the center, aided in when she joined the staff. 
Lopez is the Program Coordinator for the Cultural Center and Latin American and Latino Studies program as well as being the first Latina administrator at the center.  Lopez said she seeks to reach out to the Latino community at U of L.
“I want to find out what they need so I can help them,” said Lopez.
Lopez put together a salsa night, which is open to everyone and is free on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Red Barn. 
According to Lopez, she plans to continue the event if attendance and demand remain constant.
Another upcoming event open to students and staff is the International Tea, a luncheon for student socialization, panel discussion and interaction. The tea is scheduled to be held Feb. 26 at noon in the Cultural Center.