MSI WEEK – MARCH 28 – APRIL 1, 2022

UNLV hosts Minority-Serving Institution Week (MSI Week), which features a full slate of educational opportunities designed to foster conversation and celebrate the richness of UNLV’s students.

Monday, March 28^th

Self- Guided Mural Walk
Location: TEC Building and Reception 2 p.m.

UNLV has five vibrant murals celebrating the university’s rich diversity and commitment to transforming public spaces into places of conversation and reflection. Since its inception, as part of the CSUN 5K Initiative project, the UNLV Mural Project has focused on empowering the UNLV community through art and collective expression. All murals are created by student or alumni artists and chronicle public experiences of the UNLV and greater Las Vegas community.

Visitors are invited to participate in a self-guided tour and join a light reception on March 28 at 2 p.m. in front of the Technology Building (TEC) mural with remarks from artist Sasha Mosquera and Dr. Juanita Fain.

PIECE 1

Piece: Black Lives Matter Banner
Artist: Dexter Emery, UNLV Student
Location: CBC C, north façade

The piece was designed to highlight UNLV’s campus diversity, showcase the strength in our unity, and provide support for the BLM movement. “I also included Asian, Black, and White ethnicities,” Emery noted. “I chose to include transgender into the conversation as well. I wanted every part of humanity within our campus to be displayed into this piece for the school.” Dexter Emery. The BLM banner is a collaboration between CSUN, UNLV Student Life, UNLV Student Government & Activities, UNLV Fine Arts, and UNLV Planning and Construction.

Piece: Plants, Portraits, and Patterns
Artist: Brian Martinez, UNLV Alumnus
Location: FAB 1, east façade

This piece is a representation and celebration of the diversity that makes UNLV & the greater Las Vegas community special. Optimistic. Proud. Engaged. Continually growing.

The FAB 1 mural is a collaboration between UNLV Surplus, UNLV Delivery Services, UNLV Fine Arts and UNLV Planning and Construction.

PIECE 3

Piece: UNLV Surplus Center
Artist: Annie Lin, UNLV Student
Location: FAB 1, west façade

Theme: This piece is a graphic representation of the wonders that can be found at the UNLV Surplus Center. It also helps guide patrons toward the Surplus entrance by following the green arrows.

The FAB 1 mural is a collaboration between UNLV Surplus, UNLV Delivery Services, UNLV Fine Arts, and UNLV Planning and Construction.

PIECE 4

Piece: Different Daring Diverse
Artist: Sasha Mosquera, UNLV Student
Location: TEC, west façade

Theme: The piece is a joyful depiction of post-pandemic life on UNLV campus. It reflects the vibrancy, culture, and diversity of our UNLV population. The individuals walking are displayed in ¾ aerial view to allow for open interpretation and connection with the viewer.

The TEC mural is a collaboration between UNLV Student Life, UNLV Fine Arts, and UNLV Planning and Construction.

RSO Cultural Showcase
Time of Event: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: Pida Plaza
Contact Person: Benny Balderrama, Student Involvement and Activities

UNLV has so many diverse and unique registered student organizations (RSO’s). Check out this RSO Cultural Showcase with dancing, music, skits, and more from our RSOs. This is a kick-off event for RSO Week and MSI Week.

Las Vegas Asian American & Pacific Islander Oral History Project
Time of Event: Noon-2 p.m.
Location: Goldfield, UNLV Libraries
Contact person: Stefani Evans, Claytee White, Cecilia Winchell, UNLV Libraries

Join us in a presentation of oral histories with panelists and food from the AAPI community. The oral histories cover topics such as immigration and settlement, aspirations and challenges, family life, employment and economic issues, religion and culture, gender, neighborhoods and businesses, politics, social and community events, discrimination, activism, and more.

Tuesday, March 29^th

Minority- Serving Institution Student Council (MSISC) Meet and Greet
Time of Event: Noon-1:30 p.m.
Location: Student Union Art Gallery 2^nd Floor, Student Union
Contact Person: Dr. Renee’ T. Watson, MSISC
The MSISC is a group of student leaders tasked with developing their own initiatives to reduce inequity and help historically underrepresented students succeed at UNLV. The MSISC is recruiting new council members to spearhead their own initiative for fall 2023. Join us for a meet and greet with light refreshments to learn more about the MSISC and the application process.

Off the Chain” DANcumentary
Time of Event: 4-6 p.m.
Location: Cohen Theater and green room for refreshments
Contact person: Vikki Baltimore Dale, College of Fine Arts

During the COVID pandemic, and in honor of George Floyd, Vikki Baltimore-Dale choreographed and directed two “DANcumentaries”: Off the Chain I…Disrespect and “Off the Chain II..Reverse the Curse.” The subject matter included slavery and lynchings. A DANcumentary is a marriage of dance and documentaries reflecting socio-political civil rights issues and commentary. The formatting and emphasis highlight the past and contemporary emotional impact of pertinent information in a tactile creation of movement form and historical notation. Join us for a viewing of this provoking performance to include a question and answer portion from the choreographer. Light refreshments will be served in the green room following the program.

Wednesday, March 30^th

The Art of Identity
Time of Event: Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Student Union 205
Contact person: Office of Service Learning and Leadership, LEAD Team, lead@unlv.edu

LEAD Team presents: The Art of Identity. Join us on a discussion followed by an art activity on the intersection of our core social identities and leadership. We’ll be crafting bracelets, necklaces, and key chains that honor the identities that we hold special to us. We will be serving food as well!

A Taste of UNLV
Time of Event: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Location: Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons
Contact person: Wade Noon, Aramark, Ava Carino, MSISC, Dr. Renee’ T. Watson, MSISC & Student Life

Join us in the Dining Commons for a food festival that will feature some of the best cuisine, as well as highly esteemed chefs, and food trucks in the state of Nevada. A limited number of vouchers will be given to students, faculty, and staff without a meal plan. Students with a meal plan may use their swipe for entrance.

Let’s Talk UNLV
Time of Event: 6-6:30 p.m.
Location: FM Radio Station and HD2
Contact person: Danielle Cathey, Podcast Producer and Dr. Renee’ T. Watson, Student Life

Event Description: Join us for a special edition of Let’s Talk UNLV where we discuss the importance of MSI Week, learn about the activities taking place, and how to be a part of this new campus tradition.

Thursday, March 31

RebFest: A Day at the Beach
Time of Event: 3-10 p.m.
Location: Pida Plaza and Student Union Courtyard
Contact person: Ray Fletcher, MSISC and KUNV Radio Station

Event Description: RebFest: A Day at the Breach is a festival set to showcase several musical acts rewarding audiences with Las Vegas’ hottest emerging historically underrepresented talent in rock, indie, hip-hop and more. Festival-goers will experience live performances on two stages on the UNLV campus in the Student Union Courtyard and Pida Plaza.

Friday, April 1

First-Generation Student Essay Contest Winners
Time of Event: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual/Google Meets
Contact person: Dr. Harriet Barlow, The Intersection

The First-Generation: Pathways & Journeys presentation of the 2022 First-Generation Essay contest winners. Winners will be recognized and read their award-winning essays.

UNLV as an AANAPISI-HSI: Towards Asian, Pacific Islander, and Latinx “Servingness”
Time of Event: 3-4 p.m.
Location: Cohen Theater
Contact person: Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, MSISC

While you may know UNLV as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), UNLV is specifically a dual-designated and funded Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Moving away from simply celebrating diversity to centering racial equity and justice, to what extent are Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Latinxs being served?

The purpose of this panel is to center and create a space for the UNLV community to engage in conversation around how UNLV could work towards fulfilling these dual AANAPISI-HSI statuses. We are guided by a panel of UNLV members who are thinking about these meanings.

Contact Information