Weeklong Gaughan dedication events highlight new multicultural center

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will celebrate diversity, students and family April 12-16 at a week of dedication events surrounding the new Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.

Most events will be at or near the new center, 1505 S St., on UNL's City Campus. Events include entertainment, music, dancing, poetry reading, karaoke and an international festival -- all culminating with the formal dedication event 5 p.m. April 16.

Construction of the $8.7 million, 30,000-square-foot center began in 2008 following receipt of the lead gift from the family of Jackie D. Gaughan of Las Vegas. The other half of the cost is from student fees, after students voted in March 2006 to put $12 per semester in individual student fees to assist in funding the multicultural center. It adjoins Nebraska Union to the east, and facilitates multicultural programming with student lounges, computer lab, meeting rooms and a large multi-use area, student offices, tutoring rooms and space for faculty, staff and students dedicated to diversity and multicultural programming, such as the staff of the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services.

Here is a list of events. Most are intended for UNL students but the public is welcome:

Monday, April 12, 7-9 p.m. -- Cultural Drums and Social: Son del Llano revives the classic songs of 1950s and '60s Havana, mingled with original salsa and elegant boleros.

Tuesday, April 13, 7-8:30 p.m. -- Poetry Night, featuring Travis Watkins performing several original pieces of poetry with themes of race, gender, family, love, loss and religion. This poet-athlete has won two prizes: a national first place in poetry at the 2005 College Language Association annual meeting in Athens, Ga., and second place at the Smokin' Word Slam Poetry competition at the Bruce Watkins Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Wednesday, April 14, 6-8 p.m. -- Around the World: 17 countries participating in the event ranging from Haiti to Pakistan. Students from each country will be given a booth in the center to provide information about important pieces of their culture.

Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m. -12 a.m. -- International Karaoke and Cultural Dance; Campus Night Life will host a party in the Gaughan Center featuring an international karaoke competition with a disc jockey playing culturally diverse songs representing the many tastes of UNL students.

Friday April 16, 5-6:30 p.m. -- Gaughan Center Dedication: The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, featuring performances from UNL student groups, remarks by Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Juan Franco, University of Nebraska Foundation President Clarence Castner, Gaughan Center Director Andre Fortune and UNL students.

WRITER: Kelly Bartling, University Communications, (402) 472-2059