More than a year after the Mosaic Project was founded to handle issues of diversity on campus, the new Center for Diversity and Inclusion has opened its doors in Olin Library.

The Mosaic Project was launched in 2013 in response to an incident at Bear’s Den when a student recited a rap song that included racial slurs for a fraternity pledge event. Various student groups and faculty members have been on board with the Mosaic Project, but until recently, there had been few tangible results. After Washington University hired an external consultant to evaluate campus climate, members of the Mosaic Project began working on developing a Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

After a series of public presentations given by all candidates for the position, LaTanya Buck, who previously worked at Saint Louis University’s Cross Cultural Center, was appointed director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion in May.

The center is currently open, with resources available for students, though the space itself is not complete. It contains a collaborative conference center and a private room that students can use for quiet conversation.

“It’s a big, beautiful space that can be used for studying, for lounging,” Buck said. “I envision students utilizing this space to engage in some very critical discourse and dialogue, and talk about some of the things that are impacting our University as well as our local and global community.”

Rob Wild, associate vice chancellor for students, has been heavily involved in the creation and progress of the center thus far. He said he hoped the center would help start conversations about diversity outside of a purely academic context.

“Frankly, the most important part for me is that this really becomes a place where faculty and students can get together around the topic of diversity,” Wild said.

“We have a lot of amazing courses…that sort of tackle these difficult issues around gender, race, sexuality,” he added. “We’re doing a pretty good job on campus in terms of addressing and providing some learning to students, but when it comes to the co-curricular side, we haven’t always connected those well with that academic side.”

The ceremonial grand opening of the center is set for Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. and will include words from the provost and various students and faculty members involved with the center. An open house will be held during Bear Beginnings on Aug. 22 from 3-5 p.m.