With technology shrinking the world, it is a necessity to learn of different cultures -- and Vanderbilt offers plenty of tools to aid in this quest to coexist.
"Culture conflict definitely exists," says Lori Groves-White, director of the office of Leadership Development and Intercultural Affairs. "We educate Vanderbilt students as well as our community to respect different cultures. People should learn to work beyond culture bias" and stereotype.
"We need to learn not to judge others by their appearance, but to open our minds to understand each other."
The Multicultural Leadership Council (MLC), beneath the LDIA umbrella, seeks to unify student organizations of various cultures. The council supports diversity and attempts to cultivate a multi-cultural community at Vanderbilt.
Members of MLC include: African Student Union, Alpha Phi Alpha, Asian American Student Association, Beta Chi Theta, Black Student Alliance, Community Vanderbilt, International Awareness Committee, Iranian Cultural Society, Lambda Theta Phi, Vanderbilt Lambda Association, Masala-SACE South Asian Cultural Exchange, Muslim Student Association, Middle Eastern Student Association, Vanderbilt Hillel, and Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students.
MLC promotes communication between organizations by meeting with each organization and acting as advisers at the actual meetings.
"We don't tell them what to do, but rather give them suggestions," said Groves-White.
"We make decisions to provide funds for each group," said Groves-White. "Student organizations often need extra funds besides their budget to set up their events, we thus help them to purchase food or costumes for their cultural events, to assist with out-of-pocket expense."
She said this is a special time for students. "A university is a place where you can get all kinds of resources that you can't find elsewhere. This is the one time in your life that everything is provided and available to you." Making use of the opportunities helps prepare them for the shrinking world.
"We provide many opportunities and actively reach out to students," said Shalon Malone, assistant director at the LDIA, adding that a goal is to get the students to respect and "understand each other."
"Vanderbilt definitely provides plenty of resources for students," says Malone. "There are many offices on campus set up to serve students specifically for extracurricular activities. We want our students to become global leaders as they graduate from Vanderbilt."
-- Sherry Hsieh, Hustler contributor
