Funding for programs aimed at increasing awareness of multicultural issues on campus is still available from the Multicultural Task Force.

The task force, made up of students, faculty and staff members, allocates funding to multicultural initiatives that promote diversity.

“We are looking for programs that are aimed at sensitivity and understanding between individuals from different backgrounds, at reducing acts of bias and insensitivity and promoting respect for cultural diversity,” said Cecilia Olivares, a member of the task force.

Getting different groups to collaborate has been one of the best things to come out of the Multicultural Task Force, said Vernon Wall, assistant dean of students and director of student activities.

“The concept is that groups that typically have not worked together on issues of diversity and multiculturalism are coming together,” Wall said.

Last semester, about $4,000 was allocated across five

proposals.

That was a higher number of proposals than the task force has seen in the fall semester in several years, said Olivares, graduate assistant for Minority Student Affairs and a graduate student in education leadership and policy studies.

“Groups typically come . for funding in the spring, but to be able to fund groups in the fall meant a great start for this year’s task force,” she said.

The force takes into consideration the criteria groups have set out for funding projects and events when it makes a decision, she said. The members look for groups that include collaboration among organizations and co-sponsors.

Each year, the task force attempts to spend all of the funds available, because unused funds are forfeited, which affects the allocation the following year, Olivares said.

“[The task force does] allow student groups to come back for additional funding if they need it, and there have been times when we have awarded groups more money than they have asked for,” she said.

Students interested in information about the Multicultural Task Force, including funding criteria, can visit www.iastate. edu/~mtf, Olivares said.

“It really illustrates issues that multiculturalism and diversity impacts all,” Wall said.

“These programs have illustrated that it’s a campus commitment and that students are committed to the issue.”