Welcome to the Community Connections and Engagement Department

About the Multicultural Lounge Program

The Multicultural and Minority Culture Lounges have their roots in student activism during the Black Action Movement (BAM), beginning in the late 1960s. They were initially established to offer students of color a space for them to relax, build and be in community together, and engage in an environment where they could be authentically themselves.

Since the establishment of the first multicultural lounge in 1971, numerous identity-based student groups and residents have advocated for the creation of additional multicultural lounges. Today, these spaces serve as safe havens for students to engage with, celebrate, and learn about various cultures and identities. They also honor the legacies of historical figures through programming and events as well as the art, writing and design of the physical spaces themselves.