Multicultural Department primed to expand

By: Chad Blackmon-Edmonds

Posted: 8/29/08

Whether it is MSO, ISO, AMP, or MOE, the Office of Intercultural Relations (OIR) has branched out and made the commitment to reach any and everyone on campus.

The multicultural office has been in expansion mode. For this new school year, there will be a group for everyone. In total, there will be close to 10 cultural groups under the umbrella of OIR.

The director of OIR, Michael Eatman, feels like this change is not only exciting, but necessary.

"In the past, the multicultural office has missed out on reaching certain students," Eatman said. "With more groups and more students leading, we will be able to reach them. In reality, there may be a need for more groups!"

Eatman's vision is for the campus to be a comfortable place for people of all different backgrounds and not just the students of color.

"I think before people thought that the multicultural organization was just for students of color, when really it is for everyone," he said. "Everyone has something unique to offer and contribute."

The groups will present students with the chance to ask questions that would normally not be raised. In addition, they will give students opportunities to express themselves in a comfortable environment. There will be round table discussions, community forums, student groups and more.

"This will be a year of dispelling myths," Eatman said. "John Varland prayed for me and this organization and asked to Lord to help us to break new ground and bury those things that need to be buried. That has stuck with me."

Many goals have been set in place for OIR for dispelling myths around campus. This year, Michael Eatman and the staff want to make students understand that everyone's voice is significant and valuable.

"My hope is that students will sense that everyone is worth the time," he said. One of OIR's goals is understanding the whole person and their purpose."

With so many plans already in motion, it is hard not to believe in this organization's dream. Some of the diverse groups on campus this year will be:

Men's Organization for Education (MOE) led by Roland Anderson;
Anointed Manifestation of Prayer (AMP) led by Darius Williams;
Libre America led by Lindsey Sanchez;
Mu Kappa led by Rebekah Teusink.

And this is not all of them. The campus can look forward to the exciting growth of the multicultural organization. As Michael Eatman would say, your success lies in your vision. It looks like Spring Arbor is starting to dream big.