About the United Front Multicultural Center
Mission
The United Front Multicultural Center (UFMC) engages the University of San Diego Community in exploring and affirming the unique identity of each person. The center fosters an environment where student leaders feel empowered to become change agents for social justice and builds relationships with faculty, staff and students to develop a foundation that honors and values diversity. The center serves as an educational resource, working to contest the dominance of prejudice and intolerance. The United Front Multicultural Center works to enact the values of the University of San Diego as "a welcoming, inclusive and collaborative community ...marked by protection of the rights and dignity of the individual."
History
On April 6, 1993, then the five core organizations o the United Front: 'Aikane O Hawai'i, the Asian Student Association, the Black Student Union, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan and PRIDE (The Student Alliance Embracing Sexual Orientation-changed in 1998) submitted a proposal to create a multicultural center to the Dean of Students, Thomas Burke. Their purpose was to: "Have a center that would allow the micro-cultures of the University of San Diego thrive to celebrate their own individuality while allowing others to learn and accept them as well. We hope to that the University will recognize our plight and help us breakdown the walls of discrimination." Since their request, the United Front has expanded.
In 1995 the Women's Center petitioned and were accepted as part of the coalition. In 1996 the Association of Chicana Activists petitioned and were accepted as well. In 1998, the Student Alliance Embracing Sexual Orientation petitioned to change their name to PRIDE. In 1999, the International Student Organization and Amnesty International were accepted as affiliate organizations for a period of one year with the opportunity to petition for full membership in 2000. In 2003, the International Students Organization was included as a full member of the United Front coalition. In 2004, the Jewish Student Union petitioned and became a full member of the UFMC.
In the fall of 1997, the United Front Multicultural Center was opened. During the same year, funds were available from Irvine Grant I and Irvine Grant II through the Campus Diversity Committee to support the purchase of films and books for a new United Front library. Numerous educational DVD's, Educational Training Videos and Documentaries, books, workbooks, and training materials are available. Moreover, we have on files over 500 articles and workshops materials from diversity conferences which focus on ethnic groups, multicultural issues and topics, internships, job opportunities, community organizations and conference workshop packets which focus on diversity.
One main focus of the United Front was to have enough resources as well as a staff. Over the last couple of years, the United Front was able to receive support thru a graduate assistantship. Currently we have two graduate assistants that advise and work with the students in the UF. In the summer of 1997, during the expansion, a new student affairs staff members was hired as the Assistant Director of Student Activities and staff member to the United Front Multicultural Center. In 2001, a program coordinator position was established. In 2002, a Director of the United Front Multicultural Center was established. In 2006, the Program Coordinator Position was promoted to an Assistant Director position. Today, the Center is in the new home in the Student Life Pavilion in 2009.
