By ASHLEY A. HIBDON
Behind the many student employees at Multicultural Student Services is the director of the office, Vern Heperi.
Heperi became director of the multicultural department at BYU approximately 18 months ago and feels that being director of Multicultural Student Services is rewarding. But along with the rewards come challenges.
'Being given the opportunity to be the director is wonderful and is extremely challenging considering some of the concerns that we have for the multicultural students on campus. I think that it's a wonderful opportunity right now to be able to assist in multiculturalism on campus,' Heperi said.
In the last year, the number of LDS Church members outside the United States surpassed the number of members inside the United States, which Heperi thinks is very important.
'There are multicultural students who still do not have the opportunities they should have in education. I believe that the university as a whole provides that opportunity for them. I think education is important for everybody,' Heperi said.
'I think multiculturalism is important in another way in that the diversity that students bring to campus is very important in educating others who may be from the dominant culture,' he said.
Heperi hopes the future will look more towards partnerships and having opportunities for both multicultural students and students from the dominant culture to share their ideas.
'I think our definition of diversity is significantly different from the definition the world would use or maybe some other campuses would use for diversity,' Heperi said.
As director of Multicultural Student Services, Heperi feels extremely comfortable with the direction received from the leaders of the church and direction the church continues to receive from them.
'I think that the direction that has been chosen is right and I have no concerns about multiculturalism fitting in within the bounds of the gospel. I think that the gospel very sincerely teaches about diversity,' Heperi said.
Heperi feels the story of the good Samaritan illustrates diversity well.
There was religious and racial difference and yet a person from a different ethnic and religious background as well as a different financial background stopped to help somebody who was less fortunate, Heperi said.
'I think that's the whole key to it. I believe that the gospel teaches of helping others, of diversity and of helping those who have less opportunity,' Heperi said.
Heperi recognizes there are some difficulties in dealing with diversity and feels the greatest difficulties are misunderstanding and miscommunication.
'I don't think we have to fear anything that's different. I think we have to understand it, and if we understand it we don't need to fear it,' Heperi said.
Heperi believes very strongly that the reason he, his staff and the office are at BYU is to help students.
'The office has been set aside to help all students. The office does not exclude anyone from coming in and using the services available,' Heperi said. 'Obviously financial assistance has been set aside for some people that is not available for others, but I don't have a concern about that. I think it provides an opportunity for those who have less opportunity.'
Heperi feels the office is for all students to teach and learn.
'The office is here for the teaching and learning of multicultural students and students from the dominant culture. Necessarily so, we've chosen a cross-cultural model which simply says we want all cultures crossing through this office,' Heperi said.
'I have a strong belief that if that happens, that's when the best education happens,' Heperi said. 'We can learn things that may be different according to culture.'
Heperi considers Multicultural Student Services to be student oriented and hopes the office can help alleviate concerns from the past.
'I think the office is becoming more student-oriented and we're beginning to believe students are the reason why we're here. I think that we're working quickly to try to take care of any concerns that students have had in the past,' Heperi said.
'I feel that when we learn how to tap the resources that are in our students, that we'll be a very good office both in the sense of efficiency and effectiveness in working with students; but it takes time,' Heperi said.
Heperi is Maori, and was born in Kaikohe, New Zealand, and has four children. His wife, Elaine Heperi, is a BYU graduate. She is a Mohawk Indian from the Iroquois Confederation.
'We met here at BYU in a group called Lamanite Generation, which is now called Living Legends,' Heperi said.
Heperi began attending BYU in 1985 and graduated in 1991 in communications and public relations. While he was here, Heperi was involved as International Student Association president and was very involved in Student Life and the initial development programs. He also served as a vice president of BYUSA.
'They helped me out a lot,' Heperi said. 'In working with all those areas I began to love student life and student activities,' Heperi said.
After graduating from BYU, Heperi took a job as a counselor for programs for at-risk youth at Snow College. While working there and taking summers off, Heperi was able to attend Utah State University and received his master's degree in psychology.
After receiving his master's, Heperi took another job at Snow College as director of student activities. He had the opportunity to be an adviser to the student senate and to the executive counsel and student body presidency.
'That was probably the most fun job I've ever had,' Heperi said. 'After that, I also had the opportunity to work a little with discipline and learn about discipline systems at Snow College.'
'I really feel that Snow College formed a firm base for me to begin an administrative career,' Heperi said.
Throughout his time as a student and employee of Snow College, he continued to be an assistant coach at BYU for the rugby team.
Heperi was on the coaching staff of BYU's rugby team for five years, but will not be continuing in that position because of other commitments.
'I used to travel all the way from Snow College on Tuesdays and Thursdays to coach in the evenings and then travel home. But it's not possible anymore to devote that much time to rugby,' Heperi said.