Orienter 2020
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IU’s culture centers provide second home By Claudia Gonzalez-Diaz clabgonz@iu.edu | @clabgonz
The six culture centers and institutions at IU are inclusive, educational spaces for IU students to participate in and learn about Black, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native, Latinx and LGBTQ cultures. Each of these culture groups have a place on the IU campus, a predominantly white institution. These centers provide a home base for students to relax, study, attend programming, serve as leaders and connect with other people who identify similarly to them. Students of all races, ethnicities and cultures are welcome in each of the culture centers to promote learning and community. African American Arts Institute The African American Arts Institute uses performance to preserve Black culture. It has three performing ensembles: The African American Choral Ensemble, the African American Dance Company and the IU Soul Revue, which performs R&B, soul, funk, and contemporary Black popular music. Each ensemble was formed in the 1970s, and the institute marked its 45th anniversary in 2019. The AAAI is located inside the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. The AAAI has put on the Potpourri of the Arts, an annual celebration featuring dance and music from each ensemble, since 1993. Musician Bootsy Collins hosted the event to celebrate the AAAI’s 45th anniversary in 2019.
FILE PHOTO BY WENQING YAN | IDS
Melanie Castillo-Cullather, director of the Asian Culture Center, talks to students before a workshop on how to honor and keep New Year’s resolutions in 2017.
Asian Culture Center The Asian Culture Center promotes awareness of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture and history. It has a comfortable lounge, a reading and piano room, kitchen, counseling office, conference room and tutoring room for students to use. Its cultural programs include Lunar New Year and the Asian American Film Series. The ACC, which is close to Collins Living-Learning Center on 10th Street, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018 and also celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in April. First Nations Educational and Cultural Center The First Nations Educational and Cultural Center is a gathering space where Native American students can connect with and support each other. Its programming helps preserve and promote Native American culture and includes a lunchtime speaker series, Native film screenings, artist workshops and the IU annual Traditional Powwow. The
FILE PHOTO BY NORA MCMAHON | IDS
Books line the shelves at the LGBTQ+ Culture Center library located at 705 E. Seventh St.
FNECC developed a land acknowledgement statement, recognizing that IU is built upon land that belonged to the Miami, Delaware, Potawatomi and Shawnee people. This culture center, located two blocks away from Dunn Meadow on Eighth Street, opened in 2007. LGBTQ+ Culture Center The LGBTQ+ Culture Center is a safe, inclusive space for students of all races, genders and sexual orientations. The center has a private counseling office dedicated to the needs of sexually and gender diverse people, free HIV testing, free supplies for safer sex and an LGBTQ+ Library stocked with books, videos,
FILE PHOTO BY TY VINSON | IDS
The dance group “Paso a Paso” teaches the crowd of students at La Casa Latino Cultural Center how to do different Latin American dances in 2017.
CDs and zines on gender and sexual diversity. The center, located across the street from Dunn Meadow on Seventh Street, celebrated its 25th anniversary in November 2019. La Casa/Latino Cultural Center La Casa/Latino Cultural Center is a second home to Latinx students, who come through the center between classes to study, relax, re-energize, eat and attend year-round programming. Students can sign up for the weekendlong Latino Retreat in the fall, attend monthly Colectiva Dinners to meet other students and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. La Casa, located next to the LGBTQ+ Culture Center
on Seventh Street, was established in 1973. Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center supports students academically and creatively as they progress through college. It has the Neal-Marshall Library, a computer lab and a partnership with Counseling and Psychological Services. Its year-round programming includes the Freshman Pinning Ceremony to welcome first-year students as well as panels and film screenings to celebrate Black History Month in February. The NMBCC, located south of Herman B Wells Library on North Jordan Avenue, celebrated its 50th anniversary during the 2019-20 school year.
