< Back | Home

Jonathan Riley, a senior in business, Teressa Hartley, a sophomore in interior design, and pre-nursing junior Brittany Joseph help out serving dinner at the Black Cultural Center's Open House.

The Black Cultural Center opens doors

The Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center held its open house last night, hoping to be a "home away from home" for students

By: Gail Cole

Posted: 10/7/08

Students, faculty and staff joined together and got a chance to meet new faces and reconnect with old friends at the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center open house Monday evening.

In 1973, a collective cultural center opened for all minority students at OSU; the BCC opened in 1975, and is named after the first director of the Equal Opportunities Program at OSU, Lonnie B. Harris.

Conversation, lasagna and other free food was served to the many guests by Jonathan Riley, president of the Black Student Union, Teressa Hartley, internal coordinator and Brittany Joseph, external coordinator of the Black Cultural Center staff.

"We estimated 50 to come," said Joseph, who thought that over 100 actually attended.

Students from other cultural and resource centers on campus showed their support for their fellow center at the event.

"We all try to support each other," said Miguel Santiago, a senior in exercise and sports science who works at the Asian Pacific Cultural Center.

"We encourage other cultural centers to attend open houses, and it's a good way to meet old faces and say 'hi' before the new year starts."

Tom Sollit, a fifth-year graphic design student who works at the Pride Center, agreed that the open house was a great way to reconnect with others.

"I work at one of the other centers and we don't get to see each other very often, so it's a good way to touch base," he said.

"All the events [the BCC] have go towards building the community," said Lisa Limongan, a senior in exercise and sports science who also works for the APCC.

The social networking that took place at the event is an example of this community building.

"This is the first time [many freshmen] get to see a lot of people at one place besides their classes," Limongan said. "It's an opportunity for faculty and students to mix and mingle and really get to know each other on a different level."

The BCC presents several other large events during the year, including the pre-Kwanza celebration, a dinner to commemorate Black History Month, and the Ebony Ball and many smaller programs designed by the BCC staff.

"We have two activity coordinators, and they put on two events a term, so it's their choice on what they want to do," Joseph said.

For those interested, the center also has volunteer opportunities; students can help out with anything from event planning to set up and cleaning. Joseph said the staff is always open to new ideas that can be used for future programs that can help "make [events] a little bit different."

Between events during the academic year, students can use the many features of the BCC, including the TV, kitchen, and computers that offer free printing. Joseph said the center also offers special services at the end of each term, including breakfast food and tutoring for finals.

The BCC can also be reserved for group meetings and events.

"You just have to fill out the application to show how many people will be there, and we ... go over different rules," Joseph said of the reservation process.

Joseph said with all the opportunities and resources available at the center, one of its goals is to create a "home away from home" for students.

"We open it up to everybody," she said. "We want to create a safe space for people to go."

OSU's other cultural centers are also holding their open houses this week; the Asian Pacific Cultural Center's is tonight, while the Native American Longhouse holds its on Wednesday, Oct. 8 followed by the Centro Cultural Cesar Chavez on Thursday, Oct. 9.