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By Tyler Sprague & Mafe Balthazar

at the University of South Carolina often desire an equal opportunity for success and a positive college experience. The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) aims to “provide support for students of marginalized backgrounds as well as to create a community of inclusive excellence for all individuals on campus,” according to Kimberly Seibles, OMSA’s associate director of diversity and social justice education.

OMSA’s programming and initiatives can be briefly summarized as four main areas: student support, cultural engagement, social justice education and resources for LGBTQ+ students.

USC alumnus Badr Abdullah said being a minority student at a predominantly white institution can be lonely without a robust support system. Programs within OMSA help students find their footing through connecting with other students like them and slowly break down barriers that could hinder their growth.

Abdullah served as a mentor in OMSA’s Multicultural Assistance Peer Program (MAPP) which pairs first-year students from historically marginalized populations with older, experienced students. Mentors are usually one of their mentees’ first friends and help them take advantage of all the university offers. MAPP holds meetings and social events to establish relationships between mentors and their mentees, as well as academic and professional development workshops.

“When you have that one-on-one connection with someone who has already, you know, gone through the ranks, in a way, that person becomes kind of like your first stronghold, your first footing at the university, your first continent,” Abdullah said.

Other support programs for different populations include affinity groups, designated safe spaces for groups of similarly identified people; Black male-focused initiatives like Brother to Brother and Cuts and Conversations, an opportunity to talk with other Black men while receiving a free haircut; and Queer Connections, a support group for first-year

LGBTQ+ students that creates “avenues for students to find a family on campus, but also if they need certain things such as, you know, health support or mental health support or just finding a friend,” Seibles said.

Hip Hop Wednesday, a monthly event held on Greene Street, allows student organizations to promote their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and network and have fun while a DJ plays hip-hop in the background.

Identity365, another program within the office, celebrates distinct student identities and cultures year-round through educational and immersive experiences. One prominent Identity365 event is Pridechella, an April event celebrating Pride with speakers, live music, performances from drag queens and opportunities to connect with LGBTQ+ vendors. In addition, Q’afe provides a weekly opportunity for LGBTQ+ students and friends to meet, connect, socialize and relax. Although the Intersection Multicultural Student Lounge is always open to all, Q’afe is designed to be a consistent break for LGBTQ+ students.

The Intersection Multicultural Student Lounge, located in Russell House West Wing 034 (behind Panera and down the stairs), serves as a physical space for conversations and connection within and between affinity groups. Students can hold meetings, work on group projects or just hang out in the multipurpose room. The lounge is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to providing support and celebrations of different identities, OMSA strives to educate the broader Carolina community on important social justice issues.

One of the ways the office accomplishes this goal is by empowering students to educate each other through the OMSA Peer Educators program. Peer Educators host workshops for students, lead small discussion groups on relevant topics and generally support OMSA’s work across campus.

The office also partners with different departments across campus, such as the Office of Sustainability, to lead discussions on current issues, including environmental justice. “We pretty much partner with everybody who has shown a real key interest in trying to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus,” Seibles said.

OMSA provides educational programs on social justice and diversity, including a daylong Carolina Diversity Retreat and ongoing Diversity Dialogues, to help students advocate and become activists for topics they are passionate about, from environmental social justice to the LGBTQ+ community. Through OMSA’s many programs, students learn to interact with those of different identities, make a difference in the community and become accomplished and aware global citizens upon graduation from USC.

Learn more about the many opportunities to get involved and help by visiting OMSA’s website at sc.edu/multicultural.