Situated along Nevada Street, the cultural houses are known for their hospitality in welcoming all students who seek to learn about each respective culture.

However, the poor condition of the cultural houses has become a growing concern among many students and faculty members. Directors of the cultural houses are expressing their hope that the University will soon take a closer look at the houses and begin renovations this year.

The University published strategic plans to allocate resources and funds for the various needs on campus. An initiative highlighted in the current plan is to “plan and develop a resource space for a new facility or facilities that better serves cultural center and ethnic studies programs.”

“(The strategic plan) includes a wide range of concerns and the cultural houses are a big part of it,” said Richard Wheeler, vice provost and dean of the graduate college.

Although the condition of the cultural houses is becoming a campuswide concern, there is no definite answer regarding when the houses will undergo construction. The University plans to speak with different groups of students, faculty and staff to determine what cultural model will work best in serving the student population on campus, said Renee Romano, vice chancellor for student affairs.

“(We will be) gathering information this current year and move forward with some kind of plan after that,” Romano said.

In the case of the African American Cultural Center, the size and age of the house is no longer conducive to the needs and wants of students, said Nathaniel Banks, director of the center and assistant dean of students.

“In the future, I hope U of I will look into building a new cultural center for the African American students because it is needed,” said Ashton Clark, sophomore in Business.

La Casa Cultural Latina also has tremendous needs particularly because of how old the house is, said Adele Lozano, director of the center. Aside from its decaying appearance, the cultural house has structural and energy issues that even cosmetic renovations would not fix, she added.

“(The house) looks really dirty, it just looks awful,” Lozano said. “It would just be better to start all over and build a new structure.”

The three-year-old Asian American Cultural Center is new in comparison to the three remaining cultural houses, but renovations to that center are still crucial.

“We have definitely found that we are reaching the limit the physical building can serve,” said David Chih, director of the center and assistant dean of students. “We will need to expand the building by finishing the basement or by extending the building.”

Although the Native American House is interested in expanding its facilities, the staff of the center is not interested in a collective multicultural house, said Molly Springer, the center’s assistant director. There has been talk among the administration of the construction of a multicultural space serving all the cultural houses, she added.

“There is a need for space (at the Native American House),” Springer said. “(But) we see the multicultural center as a step backwards.”