The Job of a Student Government Cultural Executive on a College Campus

On an increasing number of college campuses across the country, a new position is being created to oversee cultural and ethnic student groups on the University campus. The position has gained some controversy because some students don't believe that such a position is necessary to oversee the cultural and ethnic groups on a college campus. However, administrators believe that the creation of such a student leadership position will create and foster better cooperation and harmony between these ethnic groups.

Many college campuses are diverse in terms of ethnic or religious makeup but when you walk around the campus, you will notice that for many, the campuses are very divided and segregated by ethnic or religious groups. Such segregation is not your traditional segregation as was deemed by society during the Civil Rights Movement. No, this type of segregation is self serving in which students only develop friends of the same ethnicity, race or religion or only attend functions held by a particular race or religious group. This problem has become an increasing issue on campus because it divides college campuses instead of uniting them and small ethnic groups become minorities on college campuses and feel left out.

So what exactly does the Cultural executive do? Well the cultural executive has to meet with the student leaders of each ethnic and religious student organization on campus. He or she needs to find out what the goals and aspirations are of that group including what programs they are hosting on campus. Usually the Cultural executive will need to attend these programs.

The Cultural Executive also needs to try and bridge any differences between cultural or religious groups on campus. Sometimes a special committee will be created to help bring harmony or foster cooperation between these groups. For example, a religious or cultural banquet might be held for the student body or a special religious event will be hosted by a student organization in which a special invitation is extended to another ethnic student group as a means of one group being special honorary guests at another group's event function.

Other miscellaneous activities that the cultural executive might do are to try and bring speakers to the University to talk about cultural or religious issues which are important to the student body. Such an event might include a speech on affirmative action or immigration. You can get pretty creative when it comes to putting together an event. In most cases, the cultural executive will have a budget to work with for programs which he or she can use at their discretion throughout the year.