CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) is celebrating 30 years of providing direct student support, advocating for students, and creating an environment where students from diverse backgrounds can thrive at Reed. Founded in 1993 by dedicated students, staff, and faculty, the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) has evolved over the years to provide programs and services to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body.
The development of a Multicultural Resource Center at Reed College was in direct response to calls from students, staff, and faculty of color to increase the racial and ethnic representation of the student body. Early founders of the MRC advocated for a more diverse student body and requested President Koblick (Reed College President 1992-2001) and the Admissions Office to prioritize this effort.
By the early 2000s, the college had poured its efforts into recruiting students of color, but to some, the college fell short on retaining them. One of the MRC’s signature programs is the Peer Mentor Program, founded by Patty Hsue ’02, created to support the transition and retention of students of color and first-generation college students. Hsue ’02 believed that entering first year students from diverse backgrounds needed a support network. They needed to know they were not alone.
In 2001, Hsue, an MRC student intern at the time, recruited the first cohort of Peer Mentors, 15 Reedies who were willing to volunteer for the role. Since its inception in the fall of 2001, the Peer Mentor Program (PMP) continues to pair returning students with incoming first year students for a yearlong mentorship program. The mentor provides social support throughout the year in a relationship that is as unique as each set of students. Organized activities for PMP begin at Orientation, with a pre-Orientation program, and continue throughout the student’s first year with social events on and off campus, informational workshops, dialogue groups, and opportunities for the students to connect with important campus resources and relationships.
Hsue’s efforts represent one of many student efforts over the years to create programs, events, and services within the MRC to address the needs of a diverse student body. Today, the MRC’s students and staff coordinate campus-wide cultural events and programs that enrich the academic experience, promote identity exploration, and celebrate the diversity of the Reed community. The growth of the Multicultural Resource Center can be attributed to the hard work and dedication from passionate students who sought institutional change — to create a better Reed for future Reedies.
Establishing multicultural spaces has been the priority of the Multicultural Resource Center since its founding. Early iterations of the MRC existed in the basement of the Old Dorm Block (ODB). Today, the MRC occupies a more prominent space in the Student Center Building. However, students and staff continue to advocate for a freestanding multicultural space on campus, recognizing the importance of creating a welcoming and safe space for all underrepresented students.
From an informal meeting group of dedicated students, staff, and faculty, to a student organization funded by student body fees allocated by the Student Senate, to a dedicated program within the Office of Student Life, and now, to its own Office within the Division of Institutional Diversity, the MRC has come a long way since 1993. As we look back on the past 30 years, we want to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments students, staff, and faculty have contributed to increasing the diversity of our campus community and ensuring a positive campus experience. We also recognize that there is more work to be done and look forward to working with the entire campus community to ensure that all students can belong, thrive, and flourish at Reed.