The Barometer Online

Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Barrett Chapman 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.

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.

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