Sacramento State’s Multi-Cultural Center has been without a full-time director for about two years, but a consultant’s findings might change that.

In late March, James Kitchen, vice president of Student Affairs at San Diego State University, visited Sac State to determine what the center needed. A key question: Does the center need a full-time director? Those involved with the center are waiting for the answer, which could come later this month.

The center’s interim director, Analia Mendez, fourth-year sociology major Ricky Gutierrez and Vice President of Student Affairs Lori Varlotta are unsure why the center does not have a full-time director.

The center focuses on key issues of racism in which a full-time director is needed for guidance.

“I don’t know if I can actually answer (why the center does not have a full-time director)? but I definitely believe it should have one,” Mendez said.

Gutierrez said there is racism on campus and issues with diversity that the center should focus on.

“It should be vital for the center to address the issues that the center has been facing. It should be on top of the recent art vandalism? and racial slurs,” he said.

Mendez said the center is important because it addresses issues of multicultural groups that are often misrepresented. She said she is extremely passionate about serving students who are under-served educationally and financially.

Mendez said multiculturalism is vital to the campus community.

“I would like to see different cultures interact more with each other,” she said.

Mendez, who formerly worked for the College of Health and Human Services at Sac State’s Career Center, was appointed as the new interim director at the beginning of the semester.

Varlotta said Kitchen’s report will include a detailed summary of all 75 to 80 individuals Kitchen interviewed to discuss the current state of the center.

“I am excited for the center, and I think it is going to move forward. It is moving toward a good direction,” Mendez said.

Mendez said she is not sure if she should be the center’s full-time director, but if the opportunity, were presented, she said she would take it.

Varlotta said the center should have a full-time director, but insists upon waiting for what Kitchen has to say.

Varlotta said Kitchen is committed to diversity and he is known in this perspective throughout the entire California State University system.

Since September, Kitchen received recommendations from students as to what should be done with the center, Varlotta said.

“I think everything will be fine,” she said.

Though Mendez and Varlotta remain optimistic, some students are not.

Gutierrez, who has been the student assistant for the center since June 2006 and is currently a member of the Coalition for Cultural Opportunities in Leadership and Overall Retention of Students (C-COLORS), said there is a lack of student involvement in the decisions of the center – the student voice is important in a center made for students, he said.

From a student’s perspective, Gutierrez said the center is very much in need of a full-time director to address issues among multicultural groups.

Gutierrez said Varlotta knew Kitchen was going to come to Sac State toward the end of January, but did not tell student organizations until the day before he came.

“If (the administration) really cared about student involvement, I would think they’d tell us ahead of time,” Gutierrez said.

Varlotta said there has been a great amount of student involvement in the decisions that have been made regarding the center.

She said she meets with Associated Students Inc. President Jesus Andrade every other week to discuss issues on ASI’s “radar screen,” including the happenings of the center.

There has been a lot of student input, suggestions and exchanging of ideas, she said.

Second-year sociology major and student assistant for the center A.J. Crisostomo said he generally feels unhappy with the current state of the center and has very little hope it will reach stability without having a full-time director.

Varlotta said students will have the opportunity to voice their opinion once Kitchen submits his report.

Leonard Valdez, the center’s former director, left in December 2005 to become director of Student Conduct. Since then, the center has been searching for a full-time director.

Director of the Women’s Resource Center Patricia Grady served as interim director of the center from December 2005 until Jan. 22.

Jacqueline Tualla can be reached at [email protected]