College dean speaks on Latino concerns

Greeting over 20 students with a warm "Buenas Noches," College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Dean Olga Rubio began a forum on the concerns of Latino students at the University last night at the Greenfield Intercultural Center. Students at the 90-minute forum, sponsored by El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, La Associacion Cultural de Estudiantes Latino Americanos and La Esquina Latina, discussed the difficulties in assimilating to the University and how Latino groups help them adapt. ACELA President Pam Urueta began the forum by saying that not only are there few Latino students at the University but they come from predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Consequently, she said, many Latino students experience a culture shock when they first arrive here. Rubio said that this culture shock leads to isolation of Latino students during their first year at University. Most of the students at the forum said that they encounter academic isolation as well. They said that they are disatisfied with the low number of Latino faculty members. Many added that they already have chosen to pursue the yet-to-be-approved Latin American Studies minor and they hope to participate in the University's new exchange program to Mexico. The students' greatest complaint was that there is not enough Latino students on campus. Only three percent of the student body is Latino, according to Rubio. "I met a lot of Latinos when I stayed here for a visit, but they always joked you can count how many Latinos are here," said College sophmore Evelyn Lafontaine. Discussion then shifted to the importance of the Latino groups in helping students overcome their feelings of isolation. MEChA President Liz Cedillo said that the groups help students deal with the social and academic tensions that arise from a "generally white college." "I felt very different being from a very low economic background," said former ACELA President Carmen Maldanado. "For me [the Latino groups were] my connection, my life line." Urueta added that those not in the groups are missing out on something. "People are missing something by not coming here just as we are missing out by not going out the way they do," Urueta said. But, Rubio added that many misinterupt the organizations' philosophy as radical and separatist. Most of the students said they felt that the main goal of their organizations was to unite the Latino population and then go from there. "People are finally starting to realize to what their goals are," said Wharton sophomore Jim Padilla. "People are starting to make progress and their goals come true."

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