‘SOL’ sets on OMA, university
Matt Finger
Managing Editor
Erika Breese
Nicole Mosby studies in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The Xavier Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) announced Monday that it will no longer be promoting Xavier University as a diverse institution.
According to a letter circulated by the SOL Executive Board, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) has not met the needs and concerns of the organization.
“SOL has undergone years of trials, seeking the help of adequate university officials and administrators,” the letter states. “Each time SOL has sought help, our concerns have been brushed aside with minimal attention.”
In response to being “brushed aside,” SOL will no longer “host designated Hispanic/Latino students through any over-night program through the Office of Admissions.” The organization has also asked that SOL be removed from university websites, particularly the webpage for the OMA, and that any signs in the Gallagher Student Center that affiliate SOL with the OMA be removed. These requests come as part of SOL’s new initiative, called “Opening Many Avenues,” to bring awareness to multicultural needs on campus.
SOL’s letter states that, “we seek these goals, not because we wish to remove or separate ourselves from the university, but because we want the university to clearly understand the treatment it has given our club, which we feel is below par. SOL would like to send a message to the university that we cannot be used simply to fulfill departmental ‘quotas.’”
SOL is hoping that its “Opening Many Avenues” campaign will bring changes to the OMA. “The object of our campaign,” said SOL President Jorge Rostro, is “to ensure that diversity is reached on various cultural levels, especially in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.”
“By leaving we wanted to pose the question: Is the Office of Multicultural Affairs multicultural?” Rostro continued.
The change most sought after is a fulfillment of the OMA’s mission statement, which claims that the OMA strives for a welcoming environment for all cultures, collaboration with other departments and student organizations offering a wide variety of events representing a diverse range of cultures, and advice for student organizations from various cultures.
SOL also claims that the OMA has been a less than welcoming environment. The members of the SOL Executive Board, however, are not the only students on campus that have issues with the OMA. Senior Jason Go, a student of Chinese-Filipino heritage and former president of FACES (the Filipino-American Cultural Enlightenment Society) concurs.
“The Office of Multicultural...
Xavier basketball listed as 20th most valuable program in Forbes
Paul Moeller
Associate Sports Editor
Contrary to what one might believe, Blue Book sales in the Gallagher bookstore are not Xavier University’s largest money-maker.
Rather, the responsible party is comprised of a unique group of 14 student-athletes, a handful of coaches, an operations staff, and a group of managers.
The Xavier men’s basketball team has been recognized by Forbes as the 20th most valuable squad in all of college basketball.
Currently ranked ninth in the Associated Press Top 25 and 11th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, Xavier’s men’s team is worth $10.7 million and generates a profit of $6.3 million annually. Xavier rounded out Forbes’ list of the top 20 most valuable college basketball programs as the only representative of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
A large reason for Xavier’s placement on this list is due to their seat licensing program, which brings in almost $4 million a year.
The University of North Carolina tops Forbes’ list as the most valuable team in the nation, worth $26 million.
The Tar Heels bring in an astounding $16.9 million in profit due in part to their merchandising agreement with Nike, who contributed $800,000 to the school for academic purposes.
The Musketeers sit within a particularly affluent region of the country in terms of college basketball programs.
Five of the top ten most valuable teams in are within driving distance for die-hard fans. The University of Kentucky ranks second, worth $24.9 million, while the University of Louisville sits in third and is worth $24.4 million.
Two Big Ten programs occupy positions six and seven, as Indiana University and the University of Illinois both have teams that are worth $19.4 million.
Indiana holds the edge due to their $13.5 million profit over Illinois’ $12.2 million. Finally, the Ohio State University caps the top ten, worth $15.3 million.
It is not particularly surprising that OSU is the only school in the nation to have both their basketball and football teams ranked by Forbes as one of the top ten most valuable.
Xavier has the smallest student enrollment of any of the schools named in Forbes’ compilation.
Xavier students are not required to pay additional money for basketball tickets, contrary to many of the larger, state-funded school programs on the list.
Xavier’s student ticket policy is far from perfect, but that’s another article all together.
Xavier, clubs host WorldQuest
Friday, Feb. 22 marked the 7th annual WorldQuest, sponsored by the Office of International Student Services and the International Students’ Society.
WorldQuest, an international trivia competition which works to increase international understanding, raise funds for study abroad and international grants, and create a community aimed at bringing together diverse groups of people.
The event was held in the Schiff Family Conference Center, where 34 different tables of eight representing different departments and clubs on campus competed on questions relating to geography, current affairs, pop culture, politics, people, world traditions, arts, flags, etc.
Kathryn Rosenbaum
Editor-in-Chief
Rachel Peters
Ann Tassone
Darren LaCour
Senior News Editors
The Xavier Newswire 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45207-2129 On-campus location: The Publications House, 3739 Ledgewood Dr. Telephone: 513.745.3607 Advertising: 513.745.3561 Fax: 513.745.2898 Email: Kathryn Rosenbaum
Editor-in-Chief Nathan Sergio
Advertising Manager Full list of staff contacts www.xu.edu/newswire
