Minority Alliance Opens to All Undergraduates

Breaking away from its original form as a coalition of representatives from campus minority student groups, the Minority Students Alliance (MSA) is now opening its donors to all Harvard students.

The strategy is part of the organization's restructuring efforts, aimed at stimulating a stronger commitment to political activism, its leaders say. Last year the MSA consisted of 18 representatives--one from each member organization.

"The MSA has been around, in various forms, for about 10 or 15 years," says co-chair Kecia Boulware '96, who was elected last spring. "Our concerns have always been the same. But in the most recent past--in '92 and '93--the group wasn't very prominent on campus."

"This year, we have a very committed steering committee willing to put fourth the effort tom make sure our goals are met," Boulware says.

MSA objectives include more ethnic studies courses and increased hiring of minority faculty.

In recent years, support of MSA activities has been on the wane. Last spring, the group's demonstration over Junior Parents Weekend--in protest of a lack of diversity in Harvard's faculty and curriculum--had a turnout of only about 20, compared to the 100-person protest in 1993.

Former co-chair Jean I. Tom '96 says the organization is "absolutely" moving towards greater activism this year.

"We've been rebuilding these past three years," Tom says. "We opened up the MSA for general membership so that any student on campus interested in race relations and ethnic issues is welcome to join."

Also, "we've finally established an internal structure--we've created political and social-cultural committees. [And] we just amended the constitution. It was outdated; the last time we revamped it was in 1990," Tom says.

The changes are critical if the MSA is to fulfill its current agenda, Tom says. As groups addressing minority concerns, like the student organization Ethnic Studies Action Committee, begin to focus on specific issues the MSA has had to do likewise.

"We're all working on different aspects of the same issues. We didn't want to be redundant," Tom says. According Boulware, the group will be emphasizing "educational outreach" and increasing the number of minority faculty.

By inviting student membership, the MSA hopes also to encourage intercultural dialogues and strengthen social relations between minority students at Harvard, says Asian American Association (AAA) representative Sheila N. Swaroop '97. , 1

"We're planning a basketball game and a food fest," Swaroop says. "We just want to get together and promote intercultural discussions."

Leaders of several minority student groups responded favorably to the planned changes. Many said that increasing membership would mean stronger support of activities requiring more intense commitment.

Alex Cho '96, AAA president, says the move to open membership is "a good idea."

"Working on minority faculty hiring requires coordination from different groups; it requires manpower," Cho says. "Drawing upon the student body may make the MSA a stronger student organization.

"And it's a good way to publicize issues to the whole campus," Cho adds.

"I think it's great; the more people that can be active, the better. I guess greater membership would enable them to mobilize better for demonstrations," says Raza treasurer Faustino G. Ramos '96.

But Ramos says motivating people to political activism won't be easy.

"I think being politically active takes a lot of energy from me," Ramos says. "Right now I don't feel a calling to join the MSA. I'd help them out in publicity. If a situation were to come out which would get my blood stirring, then I'd go out and do something. It's not something that arises for me naturally."

G. Brent McGuire '95, president of the conservative publication Peninsula, says having a political agenda would detract from a minority group's primary role as a support locus for students.

"To hear that the MSA is more politically active would only sadden me," he says. "As long as its agenda involves the sort of whiny demands the made last year, then the organization still deserves censure."

McGuire adds: "The structure of the MSA membership is irrelevant as long as the MSA's political agenda continues to be perniciously contrary to the goals of a quality liberal education.

"We're planning a basketball game and a food fest," Swaroop says. "We just want to get together and promote intercultural discussions."

Leaders of several minority student groups responded favorably to the planned changes. Many said that increasing membership would mean stronger support of activities requiring more intense commitment.

Alex Cho '96, AAA president, says the move to open membership is "a good idea."

"Working on minority faculty hiring requires coordination from different groups; it requires manpower," Cho says. "Drawing upon the student body may make the MSA a stronger student organization.

"And it's a good way to publicize issues to the whole campus," Cho adds.

"I think it's great; the more people that can be active, the better. I guess greater membership would enable them to mobilize better for demonstrations," says Raza treasurer Faustino G. Ramos '96.

But Ramos says motivating people to political activism won't be easy.

"I think being politically active takes a lot of energy from me," Ramos says. "Right now I don't feel a calling to join the MSA. I'd help them out in publicity. If a situation were to come out which would get my blood stirring, then I'd go out and do something. It's not something that arises for me naturally."

G. Brent McGuire '95, president of the conservative publication Peninsula, says having a political agenda would detract from a minority group's primary role as a support locus for students.

"To hear that the MSA is more politically active would only sadden me," he says. "As long as its agenda involves the sort of whiny demands the made last year, then the organization still deserves censure."

McGuire adds: "The structure of the MSA membership is irrelevant as long as the MSA's political agenda continues to be perniciously contrary to the goals of a quality liberal education.