A muffled voice sounded through Dante Thomas’ walkie-talkie, which was his cue to rush through the Student Center halls Saturday morning to gear 400 students up for a day of multi-culturalism.

Usually at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday, Thomas, a senior in mechanical engineering from Metropolis, is sleeping. But the opportunity to get involved with minority students gives him all the reason to volunteer for Multi-Color Day each year.

I did a little bit of everything, he said. But I didn’t do it by myself.

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Thomas was one of 60 SIU buddies who spent Saturday morning guiding students and their families through the sixth annual Multi-Color Day.

Multi-Color Day allows prospective minority students to register for classes, learn about academic departments of their interest, financial aid, and housing, and take campus tours.

Students were also able to meet with various student organizations such as the Black Affairs Council, the Hispanic Student Council and American Indian Association.

Thomas has been an SIU buddy for five years and said the event is an on-going effort to present a positive image for the students who stand in the shoes he once filled.

A buddy captures what an SIU student is, he said. It’s important to bring more students of color and show the positive experiences of SIU. It’s something the students of the University can give back.

Torian Humble, a senior in electrical engineering from Cairo, sat at a table with the sign Ask Me! to alert students and their families that he was there to answer all their questions. He said the effort to increase diversity at SIUC is needed. Participating as a buddy may have an everlasting effect on future students.

I am what they call a motivator, Humble said. I direct people to where they need to go and answer any questions they have. I try to find out about their interests and make small talk with them so they won’t be sitting around doing nothing.

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If we do a good job they’ll remember us, and they will come here and our job will be completed.

Detra Humble, from Meridian High School in Mounds, may be following in her brother’s footsteps. She obtained information about the engineering program, but she already had made SIUC her top college choice while a freshman in high school.

It was spacious, it’s close to home and most of my family went to SIU, she said. I wanted to learn more about the engineering program, to see the advantages of going here and if I like it. Having my brother here, it will be more helpful and give me a better understanding.

Tina Goolsby, a senior in social work from Chicago, said she can provide students with an in-depth outlook of the diversity on campus as a minority student.

She said if minority students know that the University cares about their needs, they will feel comfortable about attending.

This gives [students] maybe more of an outlook to how many minorities are actually coming here, Goolsby said. We do need more minorities here. We need representation. But the new students need to see that there is a large group of minorities here. This gives them a chance to feel comfortable.

Brenda Major, Multi-Cultural Enrollment coordinator, said the buddies and the New Student and Admissions began working in July toward making Multi-Color Day a positive experience for prospective students.

We gear the program and services to meet their needs, Major said. And (the buddies) are excited about the opportunity to bring in more students that look like them.

For Thomas, being a buddy allows him a chance to give students the best advice. He said students should take college seriously.

After speaking with students on Saturday, Thomas realizes that students look up to buddies. Buddies have a major influence on the decision and perception prospective students have on the University.

Historically, we’re 30 years from segregation and racism that we faced, and we’re just seeing the results of that, Thomas said. There were white people here also. Everyone needs to feel welcome.