February is Black History Month

ROMC has been busy co-sponsoring events in honor of Black History Month. 

Did you do anything special? How is Black History Month marked in your area? in your life?

The NY Post cartoon

Rupert Murdoch finally published an apology about the New York post cartoon that visually connected President Obama and a chimpanzee. 

Here's one example of a group spreading the word of the racist history of this visual image. Color of Change sent an e-mails encouraging people to write to the NY Post in protest.

The story has made international news, on the BBC News in the UK, for one.

Another example of why the ROMC does the work that it does.

"New Boy" short film nominee for the Oscars

Have you watched the short film "New Boy" nominated for an Oscar?

If not, take 10 minutes out of your day, to do so here. 

Steph Green examines the first day at a new school of a 9-year old who has just emigrated from Africa to Ireland. 

Green went to High School in Marin, and she examined issues of immigration and multiculturalism in another short film "Push Hands."

She agrees that she has used both films to explore such issues. "I think I share with Roddy (Doyle) an interest in this new multicultural Ireland," Green explained. "When I first moved there, you wouldn't see a dark face. It was a very homogenous country. That is changed ever so rapidly.

"I'm fascinated with the pace of adjusting that the country is doing, and in most cases extremely well," she continued. "In America, I learned a lot about multiculturalism from a retrospective point of view, looking back at different waves of immigration. So it was interesting to literally be present as this massive change is happening."

(from Marin Independent Journal)

Did you enjoy it?

Accountability

Mary Keller, the Assistant Director Program Services at the Student Center, shared this website with us, recovery.gov . It has been set up by President Obama as a website "that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going."

What do you think?

Since the Student Center - and therefore the ROMC - is mainly funded by 'Student Dollars' (the 'Student Body Center Fee' charged each semester. Currently $82), staff are very aware that we must be accountable to students who give us their precious dollars in exchange for our services and building.

You can see a breakdown of Student Center revenues and expenditures in these pie charts.

Since the ROMC was award a $20,000 grant from the SF Foundation, we are also looking to be accountable for this money too.

What do you think is the best way to do this?

A recent project - helping with the Palestinian Community Mural

One of the highlights of being a part of the Cesar Chavez Student Center is seeing the amazing murals on the building.

The most recent was unveiled on November 2, 2007, in honor of Edward Said. ROMC's Program Development Officer, Aimee Barnes, was lucky enough to sit on the Student Center's Art Committee and be involved in the project.

Here's a great multimedia piece about the mural put together by the SF State student newspaper.

The timeline to the right shares some of the - lengthy - process involved in creating the mural. These histories are important as they are the reality of working on a multicultural campus and in a building that seeks to recognize the multiple heritages of the communities around us.

The lead artist himself discusses each element in the mural if you roll the mouse over the picture.

The 'learn about the mural' link on the bottom left has slides of the mural being painted and you can listen to students explaining the significance of the mural.

Enjoy!

Where are we?

More basic information to start us off.

Where are we located?

We're on the top floor (known as the Terrace Level) of the Cesar Chavez Student Center, right at the center of the SF State campus.

If you're in the neighborhood, the Student Center has local vendors where you can eat, get a coffee or find a comfortable chair to relax in.

Our first post

Where to start?

Since the profile tells you who we are, perhaps the goals are a good next step.

The goals of the ROMC include:

• Help break down the wall of separatism
• Drawing in people from off-campus for multicultural events
• Openness to all members of the SF State community
• Provide a place where the stereotypes are broken down
• Influence the formal curriculum of the university
• Reflect changing demographics, both on and off campus