Letter from the Director

On behalf of Multicultural Student Programs and Services, welcome to the 2008-2009 academic year. Our directors have selected the theme, Promoting Equity through Intellectual Exploration and Cultural Celebration as the focus for our programming. We will provide more opportunities for dialogue on pertinent issues impacting us locally and globally. These conversations are opportunities to network with faculty, administrators and your peers.

Bernadette Goudreau, Rosa Lopez, Paige Allen, and Kristine Yuen attended the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) with Arnel Bulaoro and me. Their reflections over that week in Orlando will be included in this (page 3) and future issues.

Last spring we congratulated the 2008 MSPS Study Abroad recipients: Amber Herkey, Jonathan Park, Alicia Quiros, and Sarah Burch. Below, Alicia shares her experience in Nicaragua. We wish safe travels to Savannah Breen and Jonathan Becker as they venture to Innsbruck, Austria and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thank you to Procter & Gamble, Inc. for underwriting this initiative and helping MSPS send students abroad.

The first Interrace Forum will be held September 10 in the Coleman Morse Student Lodge. The topic will address your role as students in this political climate. How are you going to ensure that your voice is heard by the next Presidential administration? If interested, RSVP by emailing: msps@nd.edu, Subject Interrace Forum or calling: 631-6841. Do not miss this forum.

September 16 begins the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. MSPS and La Alianza will participate in educating the community on the contributions of Latinos and issues impacting this growing population. A list of the activities will appear on The Chalkboard located on the MSPS website.

The MSPS staff looks forward to seeing you at the MSPS Welcome Back Picnic, Thursday, September 18 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on the Fieldhouse Mall (LaFortune Ballroom – rain site).

Iris Outlaw
Director,
Multicultural Student Programs and Services