Opportunities to Get Involved!
The Office of Multicultural & Diversity advises or collaborates with several affiliated student clubs and organizations on both the UNE Biddeford and Portland campuses.
UNE United (formerly the International Club)
UNE United is an undergraduate student club and organization on the Biddeford Campus. The mission of UNE United is to promote an awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity through on-campus educational and cultural programming and off-campus excursions. The Club attracts students who are interested in learning about different people and cultures, learning from one another across real or perceived differences, and celebrating cultural traditions from around the world. UNE United is open to ALL UNE students, not just international and multicultural students.
For more information contact UNE United advisor Roxanne Longoria at rlongoria@une.edu or Club President Veneranda Kirway at vkirway@ une.edu
The Group – UNE’s Gay/Straight Student Alliance
The Group is an undergraduate club on the Biddeford Campus that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students and allies. The Group helps make UNE a safer, more welcoming and inclusive living and learning community by educating and building relationships between the LGBTQ community and the community of Allies and Advocates on campus. With weekly meetings and frequent programs including an annual “Coming Out” week in October and “UNE Gaypril Pride” month in April, The Group is an active, motivated, and crucial campus club and organization that promotes diversity awareness and educates the UNE community on LGBTQ issues.
For more information contact The Group advisor Karl Koeppel kkoeppel@une.edu
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
The Muslim Student Association is affiliated through the Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity with student leadership on both the Biddeford and Portland Campuses with the purpose of promoting Islamic cultural heritage. The organization seeks to increase the general public awareness about Muslims and Islam, and to enhance a better understanding of their history and contributions to the world. Events include an annual Eid- ul-Fitr celebration to mark the end of Ramadan and Islamic Awareness Week.
For more information on UNE’s Muslim Student Association contact Multicultural Affairs Director Donna Gaspar Jarvis at dgaspar@une.edu or student leaders Mustaf Sharif msharif@une.edu or Naima Maalin rmaalin@une.edu
Spanish Culture Club
(formerly Latin American Student Association or LASA)
The Spanish Culture Club is an undergraduate student campus club that facilitates exposure to Latin American Studies, culture, and the Spanish language via different educational and artistic activities and events. The goal of the club is to welcome all students who are interested in Latin American Studies or Spanish language or who are of Hispanic (Latino/Latina) heritage themselves. Past programs have included a Latin American Film Festival; dance workshops and dance parties in salsa, merengue, and tango; musical performances in Peruvian, Afro-Caribbean and other Latin music; Brazilian capoeira workshop demonstrations; food and cooking; and various guest speakers on Latino issues, history and culture.
The campus club is currently inactive and seeking new student leadership. If you are interested in taking a leadership role and helping reorganize this student group, please contact daspar@une.edu or Spanish language faculty Steven Byrd and sbyrd@une.edu
UNECOM -Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
The Student National Medical Association is a medical student organization dedicated to people of color and underserved communities. The group focuses on issues such as recruiting and retaining minority applicants, strengthening alumni/student relations, supporting the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine’s efforts on increasing minority faculty, and assisting to build a culturally sensitive forum where all students can learn and share ideas.
For more information contact the Coordinator of Medical Student Services Emily Brocks at ebrocks@une.edu
UNE College of Pharmacy –
Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA)
The National Pharmaceutical Association is dedicated to representing the views and ideas of minority pharmacists on critical issues affecting health care and pharmacy; as well as advancing the standards of pharmaceutical care among all practitioners.
For more information contact snpha@une.edu
Q-MED - UNECOM’s Queer-Straight Alliance Advocating for LGBTQI Students, Providers, and Patients
Q-Med is founded on the recognition of the need for medical students and the health care community at large to become better educated and sensitive to issues which uniquely affect the LGBTQI community. Q-Med is open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni and welcomes all identities from queer to straight and everything in between!
For more information contact Q-Med faculty advisor Elisabeth DelPrete, DO, edelprete@une.edu or student President Aviva Wallace awallace1@une.edu