WWU Ethnic Student Center Media Kit

Beth Carlson, Katie Rickel, Aarin Wright

Media BackgrounderFrequently Asked QuestionsFeature Story PitchLogo with TaglineRadio PSA ScriptMedia Clips

WWU Ethnic Student Center Media BackgrounderPress Contact: Teena ThachTeena.Thach@wwu.edu | (360) 650-7274

Overview:

The Ethnic Student Center is an Associated Students organization at Western Washington University. Its goals include helping students from historically underrepresented ethnic groups build a supportive community and effectively get from a point A to point B, ending in graduation. In the United States, minority and lower-income college students have a lower graduation rate compared to others, with 55.4 percent graduating in 6 years compared to 62.5% of white students. Some minority students have claimed exclusion and loneliness as part of the problem. Established in 1991, the ESC is now home to 16 diverse clubs with over 120 trained student leaders and hundreds more student members. Each club aims to offer a home away from home for all students. Located on the fourth floor of the Viking Union, the ESC supplies many resources, from a lounge space to computers and TV, to provide and encourage a supportive community for any student.

Current activity:

Continuing with their goals to provide a supportive community for students and allies of historically underrepresented ethnic groups, the Ethnic Student Center hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year. These range from Heritage Dinners for their individual clubs to Culture Shock in spring quarter, a large showcase of different cultural acts and performances. The most recent event is ESC Lobby Day, when all clubs get together to lobby for issues theyre passionate about to state legislators in Olympia, WA. In their VU location, academic advising and support is also offered to all students. Most recently, the ESC welcomed the Hmong Student Association, an ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, as one of their diverse student clubs.

Facts:

The facts below aim to point out why the ESC is important to WWU and why greater public awareness is necessary. Information has been taken from studies at other universities throughout the United States with similar programs.

Western Washington University: As of fall, 2014, 23.6 percent of WWU students were students of color, according to its website. According to the WWU website, the amount of diversity on campus is growing every year. Since 1980, the amount of minority students enrolled has increased by 19.9 percent. The ESC currently believes it is too difficult for students to find, making it hard to gain access to their services. Many WWU students arent aware of the existence of the ESC until their third or fourth quarter on campus, according to the ESC. During fall quarter 2014, the ESC rallied for more space on Mondays in the library. The ESC is located in the basement of the Viking Union in a small space that could barely accommodate the more than 80 students from the BSU who wanted to meet there in November, according to the Western Front. Founding member and former coordinator of the ESC, Michael Vandiola, is a current advocate for the importance of diversity education and programs such as the ESC on college campuses. I think we owe it to ourselves as an American society to provide an educational process that can help alleviate [the race] issue before it becomes a volatile situation, he said in a speech at Western Jan. 9.

Washington State: Washington State is a national leader in terms of graduation rates, however the distribution across racial groups is uneven, according to the Washington Student Achievement Council. Many higher education institutions in Washington state are aware of what to do to increase college degree production, but lack resources to implement the best practices. The Washington Student Achievement Council was created in 2012 to acknowledge problems in the states education system and to create comprehensive roadmaps to address them. The state is becoming more racially diverse every year, with a 4.6 percent minority population increase from 2000 to 2010, according to the United States Census. A study by the Washington Student Achievement Council found that among Washington state higher education institutions, co-curricular diversity and student services programs, like the ESC, were ranked the most successful in enhancing educational experience among a diverse student body.

Nationally: The graduation rate of American college students is one of the worst among developed nations, according to the New York Times. Minority and lower-income students have a lower graduation rate compared to others according to the Institution of Education Sciences. Graduation is still dominated by white students. In 2012, 70 percent of bachelors degree earners were white, while they were only 60 percent of total enrolled students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Some barriers that keep minority students from reaching graduation are an unwelcoming campus climate and a weak integration into campus social and academic communities, according to the New York Times, and studies performed by ERIC Digest. According to Diversity Digest, students who socialize with someone of a different racial group or discuss racial issues tend to have a better academic development, satisfaction with college, level of cultural awareness and a commitment to promoting racial understanding. As of 2012, 59.2 percent of all bachelors degree-seeking students at a four-year institution graduated within six years or less, according to the Digest of Education Statistics Comprehensive support services offered through universities have proven to increase graduation rates among minority students, according to studies done by ERIC Digest and the Community College Survey of Student Engagement. Some techniques proven to help college students graduate are academic goal setting and planning, supplemental instruction and a supportive community.

Organization biography:

Nate Panelo-Ethnic Student Center CoordinatorNate.Panelo@wwu.edu | (360) 650-7272Nate Panelo graduated from Western in 2007 with a major in human services. He served as an ESC leader on the Associated Students Board for two years during his time at Western. He received his Masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration at the University of Vermont. Two years after working in the field, he went back to Western to serve at the ESC Coordinator. Working with students is his favorite part of the job. In his free time he likes to spend time with his 10-year-old dog and fix things around his house.

Teena Thach-Ethnic Student Center Marketing Outreach CoordinatorTeena.Thach@wwu.edu | (360) 650-7274Teena Thach is from Tacoma Washington and is a first-generation college student at Western. She is a senior majoring in Public Relations. As a freshman at Western, her only friend was from home and she felt like she had nobody to connect with. Thach attended the information fair at Western and found a booth for the ESC. She found a community in the ESC and it provided her with a home away from home. The ESC is one of the main reasons Thach continued at Western. She feels she is giving back to the family and the university while she serves as the ESC Marketing Outreach Coordinator. So many students have told me, If it wasnt for the ESC, I wouldnt be here, Teena Thach said.

Ana Palma-Ethnic Student Center Program Support CoordinatorAna.Palma@wwu.edu | (360) 650-7271Ana is a first-generation student at Western where she transferred from Bellevue College. At Bellevue College, she held the Co-Director position for the El Centro Latino Program. Palma learned about the ESC shortly after transferring and became the Program Support Coordinator for the 2014-2015 academic year. She enjoys working with a wide variety of students and loves to serve her community and learn from the community that she serves. During her free time, she enjoys reading and writing.

Danielle Smith ESC Program Coordinator Danielle.Smith@wwu.edu | (360) 650-7274Danielle Smith became the ESC Program Coordinator in November 2012. She is from Los Angeles and earned her Bachelors Degree in Womens Studies from UCLA. Her first student affairs position was at UC Riverside in the Associated Students Program. Smith moved to Washington in 2010 to pursue a graduate degree in creative writing. In her free time she volunteers for local organizations and attends lectures, documentary showings and enjoys poetry.

Boiler Plate:

The Ethnic Student Center was established at Western in 1991. With the goal of helping existing students from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented, the ESC offers a safe community as well as academic support, scholarships and leadership opportunities. It is made up of 16 clubs with 120 officers. The ESC is currently located on the fourth floor of the Viking Union in room 420 at Western Washington University. The current ESC Coordinator is Nate Panelo. For more information about the ESC go to: https://www.facebook.com/WWU.ESC and http://as.wwu.edu/esc/

Potential interview contacts:

Paul Dunn, Senior Executive Assistant to President Shepard360-650-3472, Paul.Dunn@wwu.edu

Kunle Ojikutu, Bruce Shepards Assistant for Diversity 360-650-2926, Kunle.Ojikutu@wwu.edu

Sources:

"Associated Students of Western Washington University." Associated Students Ethnic Student Center. 2014. Accessed January 19, 2015. http://as.wwu.edu/esc/.

"Digest of Education Statistics." Institute of Education Sciences. 2013. AccessedJanuary 19, 2015. http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_326.10.asp.

"Educational Attainment for All: Diversity and Equity in Washington State HigherEducation." 2013, 2-33. Accessed January 15, 2015. http://www.wsac.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Diversity_Report-2013.pdf.

Figueroa, Tanya, and Sylvia Hurtado. "Underrepresented Racial And/or EthnicMinority (URM) Graduate Students in STEM Disciplines: A Critical Approach to Understanding Graduate School Experiences and Obstacles to Degree Progression." 2013, 3-28. Accessed January 18, 2015. http://www.heri.ucla.edu/nih/downloads/ASHE2013-URM-Grad-Students-in-STEM.pdf.

"Identifying and Promoting High-Impact Educational Practices in CommunityColleges." CCCSE. August 31, 2014. Accessed January 19, 2015. http://www.ccsse.org/center/initiatives/highimpact/index.cfm.

Karr, Monea. "Western Alumnus Comes Back to Fight for DiversityEducation."The Western Front, January 9, 2015. Accessed January 16, 2015. http://www.westernfrontonline.net/news/news_photo/article_5bc45b48-97d7-11e4-9e19-936dc43e0a9e.html.

Kirp, David. "How to Help College Students Graduate."The New York Times, January 8, 2014. Accessed January 15, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/opinion/how-to-help-college-students-graduate.html?_r=0.

Long, Katherine. "Graduation Rates at State's Colleges, Universities onUpswing."The Seattle Times, December 6, 2010. Accessed January 18, 2015. http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2013612855_gradrates07m.html.

"Osterberg, Mariko. "Ethnic Student Center Rallies for More Space."The WesternFront, November 7, 2014. Accessed January 17, 2015. http://www.westernfrontonline.net/news/news_photo/article_fc80cf64-6657-11e4-b2c9-001a4bcf6878.html.

Quick Facts About Western." Western Washington University. AccessedJanuary 19, 2015. http://www.wwu.edu/about/quick-facts.

"Research Reveals the Benefits of Diversity for All Students." Diversity Digest.Accessed January 15, 2015. http://www.diversityweb.org/digest/w97/research.html.

Richardson, Richard, and Alfredo De Los Santos. "Helping Minority StudentsGraduate from College--A Comprehensive Approach. ERIC Digest." Eric Digests. Accessed January 19, 2015. http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9212/minority.htm.

Yeado, Joseph. "Intentionally Successful: Improving Minority Student CollegeGraduation Rates."College Results in Brief, 2012, 1-4. Accessed January 16, 2015. http://www.edtrust.org/sites/edtrust.org/files/Intentionally_Successful.pdf.

Ethnic Student Center Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Ethnic Student Center? The Ethnic Student Center is an organization through the Associated Students of Western Washington University. We house over a dozen ethnically oriented clubs, acting as a central hub for students identifying with historically underrepresented groups and allies. We offer services ranging from academic advising and staff support to a comfortable place to hang out with computers and a TV. Basically, we provide a home-away-from-home where students who identify with a minority group can feel welcome and empowered.

2. What is an ESC Club? An ESC club is a cultural and ethnic organization recognized by the Associated Students of Western. The clubs provide an inclusive environment for historically underrepresented ethnic students and allies. Each club meets regularly and offers various activities for all to students, from heritage dinners to social activist work. For more information about each individual club, their meeting times and location, please visit our website.

3. How do I get involved?Just come visit our office! Were located on the fourth floor of the Viking Union and anyone is welcome to walk in and use our services. We also offer a wide range of volunteering and social justice opportunities, and our clubs are always seeking membership.

4. How often do you meet?Each club has a different schedule, with meet times and places you can find on their individual websites. You can find a comprehensive list of our clubs with links to their websites here.

The ESC has its own space as well, located on the fourth floor of the Viking Union in VU 420. Any student can visit us whenever the VU is open. We have comfy couches, desk space, cable TV, computers, as well as plenty of academic support.

5. Can I get involved if Im not from a historically underrepresented ethnic group?Most definitely. Our organization and clubs provide services to all students, no matter what ethnicity or background. Our goal is to create a supportive, inclusive environment for the entire student body.

6. What events do you host? What are Heritage Dinners?We host Culture Shock, held every spring as a cross-cultural showcase and celebration with performances and speakers from various ESC clubs. Its a platform for students to learn about other cultures and celebrate their own.We also sponsor ESC Lobby Day, an all-club event that brings a group of students to the capitol in Olympia to lobby for issues important to them in an empowering experience that allows students voices to be heard.

Heritage dinners, like most of our events, are organized by individual clubs. These catered events feature delicious food, performers, speakers and artists showcasing the clubs unique culture.

7. Why should I get involved at the ESC?Not only are ESC clubs a fantastic way to meet other students of diverse backgrounds, they also provide rewarding and fun leadership opportunities that look great on a resume. We offer scholarships and academic support, including an in-house academic advisor. We are generally a platform for students to foster identity, build a supportive community and participate in positive social change.

8. Where is the ESC located?Were on the fourth floor of the Viking Union, or VU 420. From the main floor, go down one flight of stairs and head to the east side of the building. You will come across a second flight of stairs in front of the information desk. Go down those and continue walking straight until you reach our location!

9. How do I contact the ESC?The best way to contact us is through our program coordinator, Ana Palma, or through our marketing and outreach coordinator Teena Thach. Their emails and phone numbers are listed below.Ana Palma: 360-650-7271 | as.esc.programs@wwu.eduTeena Thach: 360-650-7274 | as.esc.publicrelations@wwu.edu

10. Where can I find more information?More information can be found at our website, our Twitter or our Facebook.

Feature Pitch to the Western Front

RE: First-Generation Student Overcomes Odds FEATURE PITCH Dear Stephanie Bishop and Heidi DeHart,When Teena Thach was accepted to Western in 2011, she was the first in her family to head to college. Yet when she arrived here with her best friend Polly Woodbury, she felt isolated.I remember thinking, there is no one who looks like us, Thach said.

Thach grew up in Tacoma and attended Mt. Tahoma High School. A student of Cambodian, Thai and Vietnamese descent, she is also the first child in her family born in the United States. During her first week at Western, she wandered the fall Info Fair in Red Square with Woodbury.

One particular booth stood out to them: the Ethnic Student Center. Thach was excited and relieved to learn the ESC had clubs for all cultures she identified with.

Thachs story is one that is largely untold at Western: the experience of first-generation college students.About 32 percent of all Western students are the first generation of their families to attend college, yet there has been very little coverage about these students on campus media.

This story would be extremely relatable to the college-age Western Front readership, giving a face and voice to a community underrepresented at Western. Rather than focusing on the lack of diversity, this story highlights what is being done to help the diverse students who are already here.

We can talk about being the only brown student in an all-white class room, she said. People dont see it as being hard, but sometimes it is.

Today, Thach is senior studying public relations and the Marketing Outreach Coordinator for the ESC. But her reach extends beyond Westerns campus. This fall, she told her college acceptance story at the University of Washington event Storytellers: How I Got Into College.

Diversity is a rising concern at Western, according to President Bruce Shepard. In a 2014 blog post, he wrote about how students need faculty and a community where they dont feel like they need to constantly explain themselves. Thach feels the ESC provides that community for Western students. Potential interviewees: Polly Woodbury, Thachs best friend from her hometown. She also worked alongside Thach at the ESC, so would be able to speak about her accomplishments and personality as a close friend. Nate Panelo, the Program Coordinator and Thachs boss at the ESC, would provide insight into how she works with the organization and other students. Nate.Panelo@wwu.edu, (360) 650-7272

Attached is a photo of Thach and a media backgrounder on the ESC. Please contact me for any questions you may have.

Sincerely,Beth Carlsonbethgcarlson@gmail.com | 503-715-6631

Logo with TaglineThe Ethnic Student Center: Where Your Roots Plant Community

Radio PSA Script

Associated Students Ethnic Student Center (ESC) Script30 sec. Radio PSAIndividual success is a community effort. Thats what we believe at the Ethnic Student Center, where we foster a welcoming environment for over a dozen ethnic clubs. Located in Viking Union Room four-two-zero, the ESC offers students tons of resources, from comfy couches to an in-house academic adviser. Visit A-S dot W-W-U dot E-D-U slash E-S-C for more information. The ESC: Where your roots plant community.###

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