Students propose 'Unity Center' on the Walk

Some UMC members believe the center would infringe on the Greenfield Intercultural Center. With the motto "Unity not Uniformity," a conglomeration of students known as the "Undergraduate Think Tank" presented plans for a campus-wide Unity Center last night in the Christian Association. But several members of the United Minorities Council raised concern that such a center would overlap with the Greenfield Intercultural Center, which is designed to bridge cultural gaps. The Think Tank members envision "a central location on Penn's campus dedicated to the exploration and celebration of diversity in all it forms in an effort to foster community building, promote respect, and expand our 'comfort zones'." The Rev. Beverly Dale of the Christian Association created the concept of the Unity Center, and encouraged the support of a select group of multicultural students interested in battling segregation. "This is a possible opportunity to impact and change the culture at Penn," Dale said. "If it is going to be your Center, you have to dream it and you have to strategize to make it happen," she added. The Unity Center, according to Dale, would be a place for students of all races, religions, sexual orientations and interests to socialize and feel at ease. At last night's panel discussion, Nathan Smith, coordinator for Programs for Awareness in Cultural Education, said that whether or not the Unity Center materializes, the dreams of the Think Tank should be brought towards tangible change. "Anyone who thinks diversity is worthless must be worthless themselves, because they are as much a part of it as anyone else," said the second-year Education doctoral student, who is also a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. Student-generated ideas include the possibility of diversity workshops for incoming freshmen and a social coffeehouse "where we would learn about our differences and similarities in an informal setting," according to College freshman Ludmilah Zamah. Students could also use the Center for community service activities by providing food and shelter for the homeless or working with high school students in West Philadelphia. But the UMC members at last night's meeting said a Unity Center might detract from the GIC. "By forming the Unity Center, you are putting in danger programs such as the GIC, which already facilitate interculturalism," said former UMC Chairperson Susie Lee, a College senior. "[A Unity Center] creates duplicity on campus, and a good idea would be to better the existing areas now -- it is more important to raise the consciousness of students which is a personal matter and comes from within," UMC Chairperson and College junior Tope Koledoye said. UMC members added that locating the new center in the Christian Association on Locust Walk would not necessarily make it more popular than the existing GIC at 3708 Chestnut Street. "If people do not care about diversity, they will still walk on by," said GIC Assistant Director Karlene Burrell. And UMC members expressed anger that the organization was not contacted when original plans for the Unity Center were proposed and debated. Responding to the UMC's questions and concerns, Dale said she needed to "take the blame for this," adding that her intentions were not to exclude the UMC from the original plans. "My intention was not to go to different student groups -- it was to pull together different students," Dale said. "These ideas we generate together must support and enhance Greenfield Intercultural Center and not in any way detract from that crucial work of political advocacy," she added. And Think Tank members questioned why the UMC would reject any new idea which could potentially achieve diversity. College sophomore Vishal Savani said the only purpose of the proposed Unity Center is "an intentional and proactive effort to bring together all students."

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