Presented by Texas Tech
Texas Tech University opened the doors to its new Black Cultural Center earlier today.
“This facility is part of our commitment to recruit, support and retain our students,” said Texas Tech President Lawrence Shovanek. “It will be a gathering place for students, faculty, staff and alumni and is designed to enhance academic programs on campus.”
The Black Culture Center is a project initiated by the Black Student Association (BSA) at Texas Tech. Students approached university leadership in late 2020 and expressed the need for a black cultural center on campus. Soon after, the development building was identified as the center’s future home and a planning committee was assembled.
BSA President Kristaya Adejokun said, “It will bring great joy to BSA to see this center conceived, planned and executed by our executive members, with the kind help of the administrators, implemented over many years. “This center shows what it looks like when the administration listens to the voices of their students and takes action. We hope that anyone who enters will leave with a life-changing knowledge of black culture.
The center’s grand opening included brief remarks from university leadership and a tour of the new facility, which has an immersive educational experience, including a library specifically dedicated to documenting the African and black diasporas in the U.S. and Texas Tech.
“The Black Cultural Center is a place where the Texas Tech and Lubbock communities come together as students, scholars, researchers, community members and as a Red Raider family,” said Carol A. Sumner, Divisional Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Equity. Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer.
“Like all campus centers, it provides a place to learn, research, prepare for future careers, explore culture, and support one another. The center offers opportunities rooted in Black/African American culture and experience. Red Riders will benefit from the center’s academic and co-curricular resources, as well as cultural and heritage programs.” I believe.
Texas Tech opened its first cultural center, the International Cultural Center (ICC), in 1996. Since then, it has hosted hundreds of community and academic events. The Black Cultural Center is the second of these centers. Texas Tech plans to open a Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center and an Intercultural Center in 2023. The new centers will highlight Texas Tech’s rich diversity and provide educational opportunities.
“We hope the impact of these centers will be reflected in a sense of ownership, improved graduation rates among students, and higher retention rates among our students, faculty, staff and administrators,” Sumner said.
Copyright 2022 KCBD. all rights reserved.
