EDITORIAL: Center City

The University shouldThe University shouldreevaluate how it budgetsThe University shouldreevaluate how it budgetsfunds for various supportThe University shouldreevaluate how it budgetsfunds for various supportcenters on campus.The University shouldreevaluate how it budgetsfunds for various supportcenters on campus.___________________________ College sophomore Shelise Williams, speaking about the African American Resource Center, made the point rather clear: "I don't see the purpose of having a resource center if no one has ever heard of it or knows where it is located or what resources it offers." Greenfield Intercultural Center Director Larry Burnley said that the GIC is also underutilized. "We are still trying to find ways to get the word out that we are here," he said in a recent article. And last year, students said they were concerned that many women do not feel welcome at the Women's Center. Co-Chairperson of the Women's Alliance Debra Pickett said, "We're really concerned about the idea?that people, especially women on campus, don't feel that they can use [the Women's Center]." These comments about various centers on campus seem to clearly indicate that the administration's "center" philosophy should be reevaluated. These three particular centers have not attracted as many students as they would like, so we wonder how many other programs on campus have also gone unappreciated and unused. We do not question the value of the services provided, but we do question how many students actually receive assistance. Perhaps the different centers simply need to rethink how they publicize their respective resources in order to educate and attract more students. But if additional publicity is not successful, then we ask the University to consider consolidating the various centers into a more efficient working body so that it can assist the maximum number of students. Tens of thousands of dollars are allocated for these centers for salaries and operating expenses. But if the resources supported by these funds are not reaching the students, then the current system is apparently not functioning properly. If innovative methods of publicity fail, we urge the administration to ask the students themselves how they would like to receive support, and then take steps to ensure that the valuable assistance these centers could offer really reaches the majority of students.