Unity House staying; possible relocation in future
Debra Emery
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: News
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Unity House Multicultural Education Center is here to stay on the Gonzaga campus, but the physical form that the campus diversity house will take in the future is still in question.
Gonzaga is making plans to begin building a new student life center in the next three years, and concern has arisen that Unity House will be forced to move when this happens.
"The new student life center may not even affect Unity House," Sue Weitz, the vice president of Student Life, said.
Four sites on campus are currently being considered, only one of which would involve tearing down Unity House. The site would be where the COG currently stands.
"We need a multicultural gathering place," Weitz said, "and I don't think the current facilities are adequate. I would like to see [Unity House] be a part of the new student center."
Students who spend a lot of time at Unity House, including sophomore Stacie McAferty, worry the Unity House would be affected.
"If you include [Unity House] in something else, like a student life center, it gets lost. Unity House is about standing out," McAferty said.
Bob Bartlett, director of Unity House Multicultural Education Center, is also concerned about the building plans.
"We desperately need a student life center, but not at the cost of losing the social and academic atmosphere that is present in a culture center that stands alone," he said.
Many other students who use Unity House daily agree that it creates a special environment.
"It is a home away from home. It is a place you can go to feel comfortable," senior Uhura Wright said.
Yet at the same time, most students who use the Unity House also say it isn't very visible on campus.
"Everybody is welcome, but not many people know that. Most students hear about Unity House by word of mouth," McAferty said.
"The Unity House needs more recognition on campus," freshman Kristin Macauley said.
This is why McAferty has led the creation of a proposal for a separate multicultural center on campus.
Gonzaga is making plans to begin building a new student life center in the next three years, and concern has arisen that Unity House will be forced to move when this happens.
"The new student life center may not even affect Unity House," Sue Weitz, the vice president of Student Life, said.
Four sites on campus are currently being considered, only one of which would involve tearing down Unity House. The site would be where the COG currently stands.
"We need a multicultural gathering place," Weitz said, "and I don't think the current facilities are adequate. I would like to see [Unity House] be a part of the new student center."
Students who spend a lot of time at Unity House, including sophomore Stacie McAferty, worry the Unity House would be affected.
"If you include [Unity House] in something else, like a student life center, it gets lost. Unity House is about standing out," McAferty said.
Bob Bartlett, director of Unity House Multicultural Education Center, is also concerned about the building plans.
"We desperately need a student life center, but not at the cost of losing the social and academic atmosphere that is present in a culture center that stands alone," he said.
Many other students who use Unity House daily agree that it creates a special environment.
"It is a home away from home. It is a place you can go to feel comfortable," senior Uhura Wright said.
Yet at the same time, most students who use the Unity House also say it isn't very visible on campus.
"Everybody is welcome, but not many people know that. Most students hear about Unity House by word of mouth," McAferty said.
"The Unity House needs more recognition on campus," freshman Kristin Macauley said.
This is why McAferty has led the creation of a proposal for a separate multicultural center on campus.