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What is OMD?
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Student Organizations
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Solidarity
Diversity Groups and Diversity
Conference
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The history of student organizations on campus reflects a gradual transformation in our society in terms of understanding and working with diversity. The Lord has provided direction and encouragement along the way.
The first significant number of students of color came
to Wheaton College in the mid 70's. These students desired
to have a group which highlighted their own background
(most being urban) so they created the Student Organization
for Urban Leadership (or S.O.U.L.), a predominantly Black & Hispanic
club.
As the number of students of color who were not from urban backgrounds increased, international students wanted to get involved in domestic issues, and majority students also wanted to get involved in diversity concerns; a new organization was formed -- B.R.I.D.G.E. (Building Relationships in Discipleship, Grace and Experience). For a number of years, B.R.I.D.G.E. acted as an organization under S.O.U.L. Eventually, B.R.I.D.G.E. became the dominant organization and S.O.U.L. closed operations.
As B.R.I.D.G.E. grew (through the mid 80's) there was a desire
to focus on the specific backgrounds of the differing cultural
groups. The late 80's blossomed the development of several
groups. The current student organizations had a period of time
(in their early formation) wherein they were not as focused
on working with each other. Currently the organizations focus
on serving the Lord through the experience and celebration
of distinct cultural backgrounds while maintaining unity in
supporting and working with each other.
Membership
of each organization is open to all of the campus.
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