(Name-mce) ListServ Native American Cultural Center to be first inlay in Purdue's Mosaic

[KispokoT at aol.com]

Native American Cultural Center to be first inlay in Purdue's  Mosaic
_http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS0501/70224033
3_ 
(http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS0501/702240333)  
Purdue University will soon be home to a Native American Cultural Center.  
That announcement was made Friday evening at a celebration of Purdue's new  
plan, Mosaic, meant to attract more people to the university from a diversity 
of  cultures and groups.  
About 350 people attended the event in the South Ballroom of the Purdue  
Memorial Union.  
Darren Henry, a black student who is pursuing a master's in business  
administration, said he already sees a good deal of diversity among employees  and 
students at Purdue. He hopes the new plan helps advertise that fact.  
"People who know Purdue know it is a wonderful school -- and not just for the 
 select few," Henry said  
The new Native American Cultural Center will be paid for in part with a $1.2  
million grant from the Sloan Foundation. Added to that will be $40,000 from  
Purdue.  
Also announced at the event was the selection of Dorothy Reed and Pamella  
Shaw as assistant provosts, with duties related to the Mosaic plan.  
Reed said she hopes the new cultural center would attract more Native  
Americans to the campus.  
"The benefit to the Purdue University student is the exposure to different  
cultures," she said. "One of the best places to learn about global and cultural 
 issues is right here on campus."

ADVERTISEMENT
 
(http://gcirm.jconline.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/other.jconline.com/358278223/300x250_1/OasDefault/Cars_728x90/300x250_thermostat.gif/3430306337346336
3435653237346630) 
She said she hopes the center will be opened by the end of the summer.  
Purdue Provost Sally Mason said about 150 Native Americans attend Purdue.  
Many of the guests wore tuxedos and dresses. But formal attire from other  
cultures also was common at the event.  
After they had a chance to drink wine and mingle, doors in the middle  
ballroom opened, revealing The Drum Café, a group of drummers from different  parts 
of the world. When the guests sat down, they found drums underneath their  
tables and were encouraged to play along with the performers.  
During a speech, Mason listed the goals of the Mosaic plan.  
They included:  
Trying to appoint members of under-represented groups to leadership  
positions  
Encouraging scholarship on diverse cultures  
Naming an ombudsman who will respond to concerns about diversity.  
The guest speaker for the evening was Julian Phillips, an anchor and reporter 
 for Fox News and a Purdue graduate. He asked the audience, "Is the country 
ready  for the election of a black or a woman?"  
He added, "I find it completely insane that we are still dealing with  
questions of race and gender."  
Also at the event, Purdue president Martin Jischke was presented with the  
first Mosaic Award, which will henceforth be given to a person who has made  
notable efforts to promote diversity at the  university
<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free 
email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at 
http://www.aol.com.