Pre-orientation program offered by Unity House
Breanna Caldwell
Issue date: 9/9/05 Section: News
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The front door is open, people of all ages are weaving in and out of the house with paper plates stacked with hot dogs, veggie-burgers, buffalo jerky and chips. The entrance of the yard holds a small sign announcing the home as the Unity House Cultural Education Center.
Known to many students as the little house on Desmet, Unity House is open to everyone and serves the purpose of cultivating community by making people feel safe to express themselves both educationally and socially.
"It gives students a place to call their home," senior Cameron Steinback said. "It's not structured specifically for students of color, but it gives them a place to feel comfortable."
Encouraging diversity at Gonzaga is essential to maintain a well-rounded and fully educated community, truly the backbone of a Jesuit tradition of acceptance, intelligence and social justice.
"We have to embrace diversity; we can't create it," Steinback said. "It must be a collaborative effort. That will attract people with diverse thought."
The number of actual students of color on campus is relatively few.
"The numbers in general are low," Anna Gonzalez, coordinator of student activities, said. Of the incoming freshmen, she said, "We have 10 black students this year, and only about 150 students of color."
What does this say about Gonzaga?
An establishment like Unity House is an absolute necessity as a center for cultural education and diversity.
Barbecues are among many activities Unity House shares with Gonzaga students. The house itself has meeting rooms, cable TV, a full kitchen, a computer room, a recreational room and a yard large enough for group cookouts.
The most recent addition to Unity House is the Students of Color Pre-Orientation, created largely by Marlin Clark, former director of the Career Center. The program, directed at incoming freshmen, offers students a welcoming environment where they may move in early, go on walking tours of downtown Spokane, take a trip to Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, enjoy movies with friends, dance and also learn important tips about the transition to college life. Freshmen get a head start of sorts in preparation for the school year by participating in these activities before the semester actually begins.