ASWSU, Office of Equity and Diversity to host fund raiser

The Associated Students of Washington State University and the WSU Office of Equity and Diversity will host the second annual Multicultural Fundraising Dinner Feb. 26 in the Compton Union Building Ballroom.

The dinner, “Empowering a Vision…Multicultural Leaders of Tomorrow,” will raise money to fund four multicultural recruiting conferences held throughout the year at WSU. The conferences help attract a more diverse student population and to raise awareness among current students, said Robert Easterly, ASWSU director of multicultural affairs.

University faculty, staff, students and the general public are invited to attend the semiformal dinner. Tickets are $45 for students and $60 for nonstudents. Businesses and university groups can reserve tables of eight at a discounted rate for student groups and university departments. Contact Janet Ashcraft at (509) 335-9676 or visit www.aswsu.org for more information.

“I think we are premier as far as other Northwest schools go in holding multicultural events of this magnitude,” Easterly said. “The depth and breadth of our programs are due to the student support.”

The four conferences — VIBES, SHAPING, CASHE and the Pah-Loots-Pu Powwow
— rely heavily on the dinner for the much of their funding. Additional funds are raised through the independent efforts of the ASWSU multicultural committees that host the events.

The powwow is one of the largest in the nation and last year attracted a crowd of several thousand. Kuh-Ah-Mah President Amy Colton said they expect at least as many this year.

“The Multicultural Fundraising Dinner is important not only to help fund essential recruitment programs, but also in bringing awareness to the larger WSU community,” Colton said. “It’s important for people to recognize that structural inequality affects the enrollment of students of color in higher education.”

University administrators, including vice presidents Mike Tate (equity and diversity) and Charlene Jaeger (student affairs) will be in attendance. Fafael Stone, president of the WSU Board of Regents, will be the keynote speaker. A number of multicultural student groups will provide entertainment, with local jazz band 12th and Vine performing opening and closing acts.

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