CUA Center for Cultural Engagement Successfully Merges with Campus Activities
Image courtesy of Patrick D. Lewis.
By Mariam Baldwin
When bombshell budget cuts were announced last semester, hearts were heavy and grievances were voiced for all to hear. Many well-loved programs were slashed or forced to merge with other programs. One notable example of this is the Center for Cultural Engagement (CCE), which recently merged with the previous Office of Campus Activities (OCA).
The CCE and OCA have now been combined to create the Center for Student Engagement (CSE). According to its mission statement, “The Center for Student Engagement empowers students to cultivate connections, discover their potential, and create a sense of belonging at Catholic University by providing a supportive and equitable environment through a commitment to holistic growth and experiential learning.” This mission has become more relevant than ever since, for the first time in recent history, Catholic University is no longer considered a predominantly white institution (PWI).
This merger’s success involved high stakes and the weight of heavy expectations; namely, the university’s ability to foster a culture of trust with its students depended on it. When the Director, Javier Bustamante, and the Assistant Director, Javier Oliver, were laid off, there was understandable upset among the communities they served. Many students were left blindsided and rendered hopeless by the university’s extensive budget cuts last year. They felt completely shut out of a decision made by the administration, which they believed had failed to account for the diversity of student voices. Many people feared erasure at the hands of the university.
Luckily, an anonymous source says that this isn’t the case, and the merger has been successful despite the unfortunate layoffs.
The CSE continues to offer the popular programs that the Center for Cultural Engagement did. Some of these include the Take Flight and Commuter Services programs, which help to make first-generation college students and commuters feel more at home at the university. The CSE also continues to offer a wide umbrella of cultural clubs and organizations for students. Just a few of these organizations include the Black Student Alliance, Migrant Rights Coalition, Filipino Organization of Catholic University Students, and the Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association Club. They host many events throughout the year and offer a support network for underrepresented students.
Sources close to the situation talked about how this merger has been beneficial because with less bureaucracy and fewer moving pieces, they have been able to streamline decisions and distribution of services. This has helped make it so that the student cultural organizations are able to be served in a more fulfilling way.
Unfortunately, no one at the CSE responded to our request for comment. The consensus on CSE operations appears positive, though. It’s important that the university continues to celebrate diversity and create safe spaces for students who wish to share cultural traditions. It only enriches the fabric of this school and continues the Catholic mission of being a universal Church. Luckily, the university has shown a steadfast dedication to accomplishing this goal thus far and will do so for many years to come with the help of the CSE. The students will surely hold them to that necessary standard.
