Dr. Welch is the Director of the Cross Cultural Center at UCSD.
Questions by Sandra Amon from Nexus: Complicating Community and Centering the Self Sandra writes, “Throughout my second year (2013–2014), as I worked on the archives, I compiled an ever-growing list of questions about the CCC—most of which have remained unanswered. I offer this list to you, dear reader, in the hope that you ponder these questions and use them as a guide as you read other selections from Nexus, or even, questions to consider in creating something like the CCC” having read much of the Nexus I chose to ask Dr. Edwina Welch, Director of the Cross Cultural Center, and my advisor for this project, some of the questions I felt would best supplement my research: 4. Dr. Watson’s reluctance—did it affect his performance as the Vice Chancellor? How? Did that show in his interactions with CCC? Dr Watson was a first generation immigrant so his idea of diversity was individual uplift, he believed when you did “special” programs they self-segregated. And diversity should be everyone’s business. Edwina got the social justice educator intern position (originally diversity peer educator) off the ground by working with Dr. Watson and instead of saying “building better community” she framed it as what skills students would get so they can get better jobs/grad school. Dr. Watson didn’t value ideas of community,
The original mission (which is still the mission statement) showed that part of what people might have wanted was for the CCC to be all things to all Brown people. Edwina had come from the University of Oregon, where there had been a year’s fight around the Women’s Center where she worked. The original CCC proposal asked for $500,000 + 5 people, and they got $120,000 + 2 people. This wasn’t enough to serve individual communities, so they set up a system to focus on social justice. It’s not a service model but an impact model. They’re not worried, because Raza Resource Centro/Black Resource Center/Inter-Tribal Resource Center/Undocumented Student Service Center are designed to SERVE certain populations. The model at CCC was always impact/network/engagement/leadership development. This needs to be restated, because the other centers are making service models seem the norm on campus, and people confuse the CCC’s different model. 33. What ever happened to the CCC advisory board? The CCC advisory board was made so the original founders (faculty, staff, students, and community) could make sure it stayed accountable, but the CCC was good at sticking to original mission, so it fell apart. But they kept in touch, via informal consulting. The CCC brought a lot of people back for the 10 year anniversary. Called some groups around four years ago to edit the strategic plan. Six conversations happened. There hasn’t been a structural need for it. The RRC needs a board because its developing. The LGBTRC has kept their advisory board but more for policy issues.
Ruck the Fegents (at the front of the CCC). Bits and pieces of things written down (honors theses), difficult to find archives of stuff in the 80s. What we don’t have is an official institutional memory, but this hasn’t been institutionalized. It’s mostly been oral. Nexus - narratives of the time. 54. Is there a disjoint between what the CCC does and what it looks like it does? It’s unclear because we don’t hear from enough people about what they think it does. 58. Should the CCC’s mission really be to serve everyone when it falls to the university to do its job of serving the students? See answer to 14. 63. From Anthony Del Real’s interview: Why were students angry at the Campus Community Centers [during the Compton Cookout]? Didn’t know folks were angry. Perhaps because they felt the CCC become too caretaking in their role and not demanding in the planning. There is a systematic devaluing of what’s viewed as feminine labor in organizing work. Is it a critique of feminine labor/downplaying of? How do they make space for students rather than take space? Supporting rather than leading the organizing?
Jessica’s Questions: What role has administration played?
Response to “Fall 2000-Spring 2005 Synopsis: The Shift” piece in the Nexus.
How does the CCC stay accountable to students?
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