Ethnic Student Center at WWU wins human rights award

The Ethnic Student Center at Western Washington University recently received an award from the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force for creating “a safe and supportive environment for historically underrepresented groups and allies while providing cultural and educational programs.”

The award was presented May 26 in Bellingham at the 14th Annual Human Rights Award Banquet, which recognizes individuals and organizations for their exemplary contributions in defending, educating and promoting human rights in Whatcom County.

The Ethnic Student Center is a student-run organization within the Associated Students of WWU. The Center provides a safe environment where students can work on event programming, do homework, or just hang out. There are many ethnic clubs that assist students in transitioning to Western, developing cultural identity, providing a sense of community, and being active in social justice. The ESC, which is open to all students, also offers study space, computer access, and resource information.

The ESC is organized under three tenets: affirming identity for underrepresented populations (valuing every student’s culture); building community, which is to bring students together over similarities and differences; and cultivating leadership (as each student develops the ESC encourages them to take on leadership roles within and outside of the ESC).

The Whatcom Human Rights Task Force works to ensure an individual's right to be treated with dignity and to live without fear of violence, intimidation, or discrimination based on group identification or personal characteristics.