Kaleidoscope, the name of the new center on the fourth floor of Newcomb Hall, was a fitting word to describe the diverse crowd and student performances that filled the room during its grand opening yesterday.
The center, formally titled "Kaleidoscope: Center for Cultural Fluency," is intended to be a place for students, faculty and administrators to explore diversity issues, hold events, interact and relax.
Previously an informal lounge, the center underwent a $300,000 transformation which completely renovated the area and brought in new couches, chairs, reading materials and a 61" plasma television.
"If we want to have new and different discussions, might be inspired by a place that is new and different?" asked Shamim Sisson, senior associate dean of students, who worked with a student committee to develop the center.
Student Council President Daisy Lundy and M. Bruce, head of the Minority Rights Coalition, cut the ribbon together to begin the event.
Bruce said that the center was important and meaningful to both of them because it was a student-led and student-driven effort.
Funding for the center came from the University Bookstore, Student Council, the office of the vice president for student affairs and the Class of 1996.
Julie Robey, president of the Class of 1996, unveiled the new name and logo for the center.
"Today's U.Va. students should be fluent in other cultures and be able to lead U.Va. and interact in other languages," Robey said.
Sisson said the idea began in 2002 when former Student Council President Micah Schwartz and then-Minority Rights Coalition President Ryan McCarthy presented the idea to Bill Ashby, associate dean of students and director of Newcomb Hall.
Ashby said he began by inviting 100 University students to a "planning sharette" to discuss what they wanted the space to be and what diversity meant to them.
Graduate architecture student Benjamin Blanchard led a team of undergraduate architecture students to design the physical space.
"I love this space," Ashby said. "The process itself of creating the space represents what we envision the space doing in real-life."
Susan "Syd" Dorsey, a University alumna and member of the Board of Visitors, spoke at the event and said the center proposes to fill a void where the University community can address issues of diversity and increase understanding.
"Neither the name nor the space is the key to the achievement of this ideal," she said. "It requires open minds, open hearts and widespread effort throughout the University community."
A variety of programs are planned for the center, including Monday night "lounge nights" in which two organizations will co-sponsor an event. Matt Mariner, chair of the Council ad-hoc committee on social diversity, said the first event will be sponsored by the National Organization for Women and the College Republicans.
"This is what I live for -- to see something like this," Mariner said of the grand opening.
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