Oregon State University’s Centro Cultural César Chávez invites students and alumni to register for the fifth annual multicultural alumni and friends tailgater, on October 23 in front of the Centro as part of Homecoming Weekend. OSU will meet the University of Utah at the football game at Reser Stadium, but many who attend Homecoming will insist that the best time can be had at tailgate parties in the stadium parking lot, or the ones taking place even further away.
The OSU Alumni Association, the College of Liberal Arts, the Educational Opportunities Program, the Diversity and Cultural Engagement Office, and the Office of Institutional Diversity are all jointly sponsoring the event as a concrete reminder of the University’s promise to value, honor, and celebrate the many different backgrounds of its student body and faculty.
There was a time when higher education in general, and OSU in particular, was a bastion of white privilege, and the exclusion of students who were Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color was a constant. The existence of institutions at OSU like the Centro show how far we have come.
People who wish to attend are strongly encouraged to register before 9:59 p.m. on October 21. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. Guests over 21 years of age will each receive a ticket good for one free drink.
Suzanne Phillips, Director of Alumni Diversity and Affinity Groups, said the event would begin about two hours before kickoff with casual socializing and community-building.
“We have yard games like large Jenga and Connect Four,” she said to the Daily Barometer. “We also have a DJ who will have some music going so we can build an atmosphere of fun and dancing and community. We’re just trying to offer a variety of activities…[to bring] the community back together in a fun and social atmosphere for a moment before we go to the stadium and cheer on the Beavers.”
Phillips expressed regret that the event had to be cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She admitted that the recent resurgence is liable to reduce attendance, but expressed hope that many would still come.
“In future years we will see some changes, but we understand people aren’t always going to be super thrilled to get together in large groups,” she added, “so while we anticipate a good number of people, we also know that the size is going to be different than it was in the past. The main idea regarding this event is to create the opportunity and to truly reconnect with each other. We want it to be known that it is a space that has been intentionally created and built for various communities, so we welcome one and all.”
The Centro is located at 691 SW 26th Street, Corvallis.
By John M. Burt
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