La Voz de Aztlan, November 19 1979
Item
Title
La Voz de Aztlan, November 19 1979
Creator
Associated Students of Fresno State
Relation
La Voz de Aztlan (Daily Collegian, California State University, Fresno)
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
11/19/1979
Format
PDF
Identifier
SCUA_lvda_00108
extracted text
Special Publication. of The Daily. Collegian
LA VOZ de AZTLAN
Monday
Nov. 19, 1979
Aztec calendar reall a histo
book
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz staff writer
When is an Aztec calendar
ec nor a calendar~
When it is the famous Aztec calendar
on display in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, said Dr. Cecilio
Orozco at a lecture in the college union
Nov. 5.
Orozco, a bilingual-cross cultural
specialist at CSUF, has spent ten years
exploring exactly what La Piedra def
Sol de los Mexicas (the Sun Stone of
the Mexicas) is.
What he discovered was the stone was
not designed to tell what day of the
month it is. Instead, he said, the 24-ton,
12-foot diameter circular stone is a book
chronicling the history of Native Americans from their migration from the far
northern portion of the coptinent to their
settlement of what is now Mexico City .
The stone was actually carved by the
Mexicas, descendants of the Aztecs.
Most people have trouble dealing
with any theory that says that Native
Americans were actually created on
this continent as the stone suggests.
"Most of us are monogenesists. Paradise up the Euphrates, an apple, the rib
and all that stuff," Orozco said. There
are several theories about the origin
of Native Americans, few of which state
that Native Americans originate here.
Orozco cited several theories including speculation that Native Americans
are the survivors of Atlantis, came
over the Bering Straits from Russia into
Alaska, are a lost tribe of Israel, or
are Pacific islanders who came to the
Americas Kon-tiki style. Indian folklore
and tradition, however, in-s ist Native
Americans were created here.
There is some evidence that some Native Americans did come from elsewhere, however. The Olmecs in Mexico
may have come from Africa, Orozco
said. The Terascans of Mexico have been
tied linguistically to the Japanese,
-'~'"''~~
<f,
J/Jf(
'\ '-:
, ;,,,;~A,:
,_.
,,,;.,l
~• -
' '¥ ,·,,,,.;,., - - ~ --"'~
~~·
~L- ~: --
l..
t'~~R ~
',,
'.
....
__
»
.. :;~;~~':'
--·-<=-::•
.4:·
--~::·~:~:;~\-~t~{i;~_. ·~~. -x~iiJ/JJfr1:~;i : ~: . '. :; ·-·
The Aztec calendar in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico
City isn't really a calendar, according to Dr. Cecilio Orozco.
he added.
After Cortez' defeat in his first battle
with the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan
("It's a myth that 300 Spaniards conquered an.empire, Or:ozco said.), Cortez
gathered thousands of native allies and
razed the city the second time. The sun
stone was thrown into the lake surrounding the city, Orozco said.
It was while digging ditches in 1760,
that the stone was uncovered and
propped against a cathedral wall, where
"thedogs could visit," Orozco said.
The stone's first chapter - tells how
"long ago we lived in the happy hunting
grounds in the far north where ice came
-·i.-··
The 24-ton stone is actually a history book. (photo by George
Aguirre)
and predators preyed on us," Orozco
said. This may have been a time of one
of the ice ages, he added .
The stone then tells how the natives
went south to the "red lands," which
Orozco said is where Utah, Arizona and
New Mexico now exist. A drought,
however, forced the Native Americans,
who now called themselves Nahuatl
people, southward again .
They settled, according to the stone,
along seven mountain entrances and divided themselves into seven tribes .
Hurricane force wind forced six of
the tribes to move on, but the. Aztecs
remained and became a powerful
tribe, Orozco said. The seven mountain
entrances are probably located on Mexico's central Pacific coast, he added .
A flood forced the Aztecs to uproot
themselves and they wandered for 200
years mixing with other tribes . They finally settled inland as the other tribes
had done . They moved to high ground,
Tenochtitlan! or where Mexico City
stands today:
It's only been fairly recent since the
stone was deciphered, Orozco said.
He gave much of the credit to Alfonso
Rivas Salmon, who Orozco said, . "is
the only man -1 knew still preoccupied
with truth."
PASS readies retention efforts for target groups
About 33 percent of undergraduates
enrolled in the Spring 79 semester
failed to return to CSUF for the Fall
79 semester, according to campus research figures.
This dropout rate excludes those who
graduated, but represents a large loss
of revenue for the university.
Retention in an age of declining enrollment throughout the California Univeristy and college system is gaining
high priority. A program to improve the
retention rate of low income, the. educationally disadvantaged, the limited
English speaking; the rurally isolated
and handicapped students is underway at CSUF to help turn the tide of
attrition locally.
Progress and Advancement through
Special Services (PASS), coordinated
'If the idea is to educate,
let's keep them on campus'
by Pat Aguirre, was recently granted
funding through August from the
Health, Education and Welfare Department. The program is already applying
for a four-year extension on that special
$82,000 grant.
Aguirre, a 1973 CSUF graduate,
said, "We' re seeking assistance from
the faculty to identify students who have
problems in reading and comprehension,
who may not be prepared for the academic level, or those who have less
than average English language skills."
Once identified, these students will
be focused upon by . the PASS staff
which includes: A reading specialist
who can apply assesment and diagnos-
tic ~kills to reading problems; a mathscience specialist who can help with
basic developmental skills; a bilingual
services coordinator who can help increase language proficiency for the limited English speaking; and a special
student support staff to provide one-onone tutoring services.
Aguirre said PASS will work closely
with those students recruited by the
Recruiting Students Via Parents program. PA~S will help them past the
recruiting stage and help them get
through their four years of college.
The program is concentrating on getting faculty cooperation right now. Faculty are beinR asked to identify those
(continued on page 3)
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
(
CoD1D1entario
Nov. 19, 1979
]
Editorial
Racist undercurrents
Much has been written about the recent campus demonstrations ostensibly protesting the illegal seizure of American embassy personnel in Tehran. One thing
the analysis, letters to the editors, reporting and editorials missed, however, is
the stench of racism that permeated CSUF 's demonstrations and similar events
throughout the country.
One left the demonstrations or the TV set, not so much with an understanding
of why the demonstrators were outraged (that much is obvious), but depressed
by the blatantly anti-Iranian obscenities and endless stream of ignorance. It was
as if all the frustration over summer gas lines, loss of American prestige, inflated cost of dope, mid-term anxieties, disco cover charges and high rents surfaced and focused on Iranians on campus.
"Go home. Go home," the demonstrators chanted regardless of whether the
local Iranians support the taking of hostages in Tehran. Those Iranians who did
reach the podium to express their views were shouted down and had to brave catcalls and name-calling. It's as it first amendment rights are contingent upon skin
color or political viewpoint.
_
There is, of course, no excuse tor the seizure of the U.S. embassy and its personnel in Tehran. However, there is also no excuse for an abridgement of any
U.S. resident's rights, nor a summary call for deportation of Iranians by both the
populace and the government.
Just as the taking of diplomatic hostages for blackmail purposes, if successful,
sets a dangerous pr~edent, the deportation of nationals of a country that has
earned our displeasure also sets one.
If legal Iranian residents can be summarily called in by immigration officials,
can the harrassmentof other legal aliens in the U.S. be far behind?
Should Mexico suddenly raise the price of natural gas, will legal Mexican residents be summoned to defend their right to stay? Will American-born Chicanos
be asked to choose their homeland?
If Japan should up the price of Toyotas and computer parts, will Americans
clamor for the deportation of Japanese? .
·
Probably so. This country is chauvanistic enough to think it is entitled (o
everything. Note the outrage last summer when Iranian oil imports ~re cutoff.
"They cut oft OUR oil, " Americans said. What suddenly makes it ours?
The people who are bringing back into vogue the "America, Jove it or leave it"
slogan, are the same people who com,:,lain. of big govenment, restrictive laws and regulations, high taxes, poor roads and high mortgage rates. For a people who
complain so much, Americans take a dim view of complainers, particularly when
they don ·'t talk or look like the majority.
·
_
The organizers of the demonstrations probably had no intention that -the event
turn into a circus of epithets and American bluster. But that 's what happenened.
Some people have heralded the demonstrations as the student body's long
awaited rise from apathy.
If students rise only to utter racist, chauvanistic, didactic and uneducated
remarks, then maybe apathy is preferable.
The results of the Nov. 6 state and
local elections brought some bad news
for minorities.
Proposition 1, the anti-busing amendment, was pass-~d by an overwhelming
two-to-one margin. And Harry Hiraoka,
the State Center Community College
District incumbent, targeted by minority groups for defeat, handily defeated his opponent, Alexander Rendon.
Prop. 1, authored by state Sen. Alan
Robbins (D-Van Nuys), overcame early
opposition by minority groups and other
busing foes to win with nearly a million
more votes .t han the opposition.
The proposition, however, may do
very little to stop court-ordered busing
in the state. Both Robbins and Prop. 1
opponents expect nothing substantial
to happen until after a court challenge
by opponents is cleared.
Even with that obstacle out of the way,
Rob':>ins contends there is a strong
possibility the amendment may not halt
the busing of school children in the Los
Angeles basin.
The reason is that the proposition does
Report in the works
by Gina Holguin
Voz staff writer
not order an outright halt to busing;
r-ather it says that state courts cannot
interpret the Supreme Court's order in
a broad manner, or go beyond the intent
of the Supreme Court justices.
The student affirmative action committee is trying
"'develop a plan ci
recruitiment , of minorities and women.
Six years ago, the state legislature And also a plan of retention," said Sepulpassed a regulation that all California veda. .
state universities and colleges set up
The committee has also met with vara student affirmative action.plan.
ious community groups. It has sent letThe · plan called for each campus ters to '1igh school counselors, school
. in .the system to submit a report to the superintendents, and deans. The comChancellor~~ office detailing the affir- mittee hopes to receive their input
mative action needs. of their service .on problems_facing the campus and reareas.
commendations.
This year California State University, . , It is mandatory for -all California •
Fresno started work on their student state universities and colleges to subaffirmative action plan. Jay Sepialveda, . mit a student affirmative action report
a student on the committee formed to by January 1980. The Chancellor's
-help draft the plan, said, "'The reason office will then implement these spec;.
for not getting the plan underway was fie recommendations and develop ~
because Baxter neglected to set up the cruiting methods.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has
ordered busing in only two cases of
deliberate segregation, the California
Supreme Court has ordered all schools
racially segregated to take "reasonable
and feasible" steps to integrate. Proposition 1 may overturn that order .
Harry Hiraoka, an SCCCD incumbent
,ince 1966, overcame strident opposition by several minority groups, in particular Chicano organizations.
Hiraoka, in an interview with the Fresno Bee before the campaigns wer,e underway, came out strongly against
affirmative action and bili,:igual educa:ion. He made certain references to Chicanos which were perceived by the Chicano population to be racist.
Alexander Rendon, a junior high
school vice-principal in Fowler, entered
the campaign on the last day of registration. Rendon' s campaign started
slowly but later caught fire with the
backing of minorfty groups in the area.
student affimlative action plan." The
affirmative action committee at CSUF
has been developed by Dr. Robert O.
Bess, who has done much to push the
issue, Sepulveda said.
"The whole objective of student affirEdltor ............... Rrcardo Pimentel
mative action is to develop a plan to
increase the number of underrepresenPhoto Edltor ....... George Aguirre ·
ted groups on campus," said Robert
Segura, a faculty member on the comStaff ................. Gina Holguin
mittee.
Scott LaFee
The committee has sought information
Dora Lara
from every department on what each
Steve Le Vine
is doing in recruiting and retention
Margarita Martinez
of students. They have also been asked
what recruiting problems departments
La Voz de Aztlan Is publlahect by
face and the barriers which keep stu- the Associated Students at Callfordents from attending CSUF.
n la State University, Fresno and the
In conjunction with the departments, . newspaper staff. Un.s igned editorials
the committee also is giving added
or cartoons are the opinions of the La
strength to existing programs, such as
Voz staff and not necessarily the
Ethnic Studies, La Raza studies and Woviews of the Associated Students,
men's studies. Segura said '"Students
CSUF or the State of California.
need a place to feel comfortable and
these groups play an important role."
Anti-busing, Hiraoka win
by Scott ufee
I.a Voz staff writer
. Affirmative action
u
to
Staff Box
La Voz de Aztlan
Pagel
'nority and media subject of Spring course
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz Editor
Aclass highlighting the involvement
and non-involvement of minorities in
themedia is being offered for the Spring
'I) semester through the radio and TV
department.
Listed as RTV 188T in the class
schedule, the course will feature speakasfrom the media and the community,
•adcfressing the minorities' role in the
media.
Dr. William Monson, who usually
teaches standard radio and TV courses
u:h as radio production and funda-
antals of broadcast performance, will
mnduct the new class. He said, "The
pl here is to allow an interreaction
lltween students and members of the
media, to communicate an~ to show
what problems exist in the field for
reporters and those being reported
upon.H
Radio and TV station managers,
owners of newspapers, community
leaders, and reporters will be asked to
speak in the class, Monson said.
The idea for the class grew out of a
meeting between Chicano and Black
students and the Associated Students
media council, an advisory body, last
spring, Monson said. During that meeting minority students voiced their concern over rumors that funding for the
campus minority newspapers, La Voz
and Uhuru, was being cutoff.
Several people at that meeting lamented the absence of any class dealing with
minorities in the- media. This gave
Monson the. idea for the course that will
be offered Mondays from·7 to 10 p.m .
PASS readies retention
fforts for target groups
(continued from page 1)
who might need PASS' services. But
the faculty shouldn't worry whether the
student is low income, from a rurally
isolated area or any of the other criterion, Aguirre said. The special need
ri&ht now is simply to identify those
requiring help, she said.
The program is also trying to identify
those on academic probation.
Aaitic of retention programs might
1'hy students who "can ~t make the
• should be helped to remain in
. Aguirre countered that "The
· ity is facing an enrollment problent We've got the students and if the
fdea is to educate them, then let's
~ them on campus and educate
them..
,
She said detracto,:s· of retention pro-
rams fail to realize·that many students
froin
whole new worldH for many students,
Aguirre said. People in Parlier, for instance, see and hear Spanish wherever
they go in town and attending a university might be something of a #culture shock," Aguirre said.
The students will not be coddled,
ever. "We' re not go_ing to spoon
them," Aguirre said. "The only
they are going to get help is to
themselves."
howfeed
way
help
· Profe·s sors who fear that PASS may
be usurping 'their teaching privileges,
have no reason for concern. Aguirre
said the program will -enable students
who ordinarily bog down a class to keep
up with course work.
"'An instructor cannot be everything
to everybody. There may be someone
who needs more than two hours a week.
We fulfill that need," Aguirre said.
•limited resource back-
' The PASS program is working out
of the financial aids office in the Joyal
noencydopedias in ·the home, or where
building now, t;>ut will soon move to
its own office in Joyal 242. The PASS
Qllne
cnutds/ where there are no libraries,
Enalish is seldom spoken.
The transition to academfcs is
"a
lditorships ·
Available
phone number is 487-2182.
The reason the class has not been
offered earlier, Monson said, is because
of the problem of manpower. For instance, Monson is teaching a full schedule in addition to the new course. With
the exception of the concerns voiced at
the spring media council meeting,
H students haven't exactly clamored for
the class. But it's needed," he added . .
The class is being offered as a topics
course but if the response is favorable,
the class could be inccrporated into the
regular curriculum, Monson said.
A class geared towards Chicanos
and the media was offered through the
La Raza studies department in the Fall
1978 semester. The class explored
access to the media by Chicanos, Chicano publications, and what recourse
Chicanos have to correct misrepresentation and underrepresentation in the
media. The class also produced one
television show through KAIL-TV in
Clovis and a newspaper in conjunction
with the California Advocate newspaper
in West Fresno.
Monson said the new class differs
from earlier efforts because "it is the
first time an attempt is being made to
deliberately get the reaction of all
elements" of the campus . He said that
while a class offered through the La
Raza studies department is in fact open
to all students, students often perceive
La Raza courses as being only for
Chicanos.
"I'm not trying to steal anybody's
thunder," Monson said . "Maybe this
will become an inter-departmental
course." Getting the course implemented in the curriculum is a start, he
added.
Monson is seeking input from students and faculty to decide who should
be asked to speak at the course. Les
Kimber, publisher of the California
Advocate, is the first scheduled speaker.
At a Thursday media council meeting,
Monson announced that the class
was being offered. He said he is contemplating having the course's students
maintain journals throughout the semester . Grades will be determined by the
journals. Monson set the tone for the
class at the meeti_ng . He said, "It's not
the kind of class where you have to agree
with the instructor.
H
Diaz new RSVP cOordinator
The Recruiting Students Via Parents
program (RSVP) is eyeing expansion
after enrolling more than 150 Chicanos
into CSUF last year, said Raul Diaz, 26,
newly appointed coordinator of the program.
.
Diaz, a former counselor at Dinuba
High School, said he ~ould like to include high school freshmen, sophmores
and juniors -in the programs 's recruiting
efforts. During its first year RSVP tar. geted only high school seniors and with
great success, according to Diaz.
The program got off to a late start
last year and th~ actual recruiting began six months into its 12-month pilot
project period. Even with this handicap
the program fulfilled its goals.
Diaz succeeds Dr. Esteban Soriano
as coordinator, who is now student affirmative ·action officer for the California
State University arid Colleg~ system·.
Chicanos have been identified as the_
most underrepresented in the system,
Diaz said.
"We have to reach other grades," he
said, "to get them into college preparatory classes . We haven't been oriented
that way."
Part of the RSVP approach is to get
parents involved in the decision on
whether their children attend college.
"We' re trying to convince them of the
value of education," Diaz said. The parents have been turning ·out for the cultural 11ights the program sponsors .
"It's hard to get 10 people to go to
a PTA meeting, yet here we've been
able to get people to come out," said
Diaz. He estimated that more than
500 people have attended the three cultural nights held so-far this year .
Cultural nights are recruiting efforts
geared toward Chicano _ students and
their parents. Muc~ of the event is conducted -in Spanish and it frequently
features Mexican folk dancing and Marimba bands.
.: What people say about Iranian situation ,. ·
·
·
Photos by Lupe Mora
The A.S. media council is now
accepting applications for the Spring
semester for the editorships of:
La Voz de Aztlan
Uhurn Na Umoja
Daily Collegian
Applications are available in the
A.S. office in the C.U. The filing
deadline Is Dec. 3. Applicants must
present 3 letters of recommendation
and a policy statement. Applicants
must be full-time CSUF students.
For more information,
call the A.S. office at
487-2657.
Ali Kareem, 26, industrial technology
major--"The best way is to explain to
the American people what's going on.
People of Iran have a background of
American action for 37 years. Since one
year ago, the experience with the Ameri ..
can embassy is of doing things against
the Iranian people. The embassy is just
not a normal diplomatic office.
H
Valentina Sepulveda, 22, health science major--"We should _send the shah
back. send him home . They're talking
against the American government (not
the American people). Everything
would be okay if they just give the shah
back."
Paul Marmolejo, 18, accounting major--
HThe president is up for re-election .
He has to make his moves with the intent to satisfy th~ public .... He should
issue an ultimatum. Say '~ither you release the hostages or we' II go in with
force. ' The country is fed up with the
way people are reacting . They' re too
lenient with other countries ."
La Voz de Aztlan
Future CSUF studen
attend Cultural Nigh
at Roosevelt High
Norma Rendon sang with the RHS Marimba ba~d at the
The Roosevelt High School danzantes performed a number of dances.
Photos by
George
Aguirre
..... _...... Dr . .Esteban Soria~,._former R~VP coordinator , talb to the press.
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LA VOZ de AZTLAN
Monday
Nov. 19, 1979
Aztec calendar reall a histo
book
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz staff writer
When is an Aztec calendar
ec nor a calendar~
When it is the famous Aztec calendar
on display in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, said Dr. Cecilio
Orozco at a lecture in the college union
Nov. 5.
Orozco, a bilingual-cross cultural
specialist at CSUF, has spent ten years
exploring exactly what La Piedra def
Sol de los Mexicas (the Sun Stone of
the Mexicas) is.
What he discovered was the stone was
not designed to tell what day of the
month it is. Instead, he said, the 24-ton,
12-foot diameter circular stone is a book
chronicling the history of Native Americans from their migration from the far
northern portion of the coptinent to their
settlement of what is now Mexico City .
The stone was actually carved by the
Mexicas, descendants of the Aztecs.
Most people have trouble dealing
with any theory that says that Native
Americans were actually created on
this continent as the stone suggests.
"Most of us are monogenesists. Paradise up the Euphrates, an apple, the rib
and all that stuff," Orozco said. There
are several theories about the origin
of Native Americans, few of which state
that Native Americans originate here.
Orozco cited several theories including speculation that Native Americans
are the survivors of Atlantis, came
over the Bering Straits from Russia into
Alaska, are a lost tribe of Israel, or
are Pacific islanders who came to the
Americas Kon-tiki style. Indian folklore
and tradition, however, in-s ist Native
Americans were created here.
There is some evidence that some Native Americans did come from elsewhere, however. The Olmecs in Mexico
may have come from Africa, Orozco
said. The Terascans of Mexico have been
tied linguistically to the Japanese,
-'~'"''~~
<f,
J/Jf(
'\ '-:
, ;,,,;~A,:
,_.
,,,;.,l
~• -
' '¥ ,·,,,,.;,., - - ~ --"'~
~~·
~L- ~: --
l..
t'~~R ~
',,
'.
....
__
»
.. :;~;~~':'
--·-<=-::•
.4:·
--~::·~:~:;~\-~t~{i;~_. ·~~. -x~iiJ/JJfr1:~;i : ~: . '. :; ·-·
The Aztec calendar in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico
City isn't really a calendar, according to Dr. Cecilio Orozco.
he added.
After Cortez' defeat in his first battle
with the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan
("It's a myth that 300 Spaniards conquered an.empire, Or:ozco said.), Cortez
gathered thousands of native allies and
razed the city the second time. The sun
stone was thrown into the lake surrounding the city, Orozco said.
It was while digging ditches in 1760,
that the stone was uncovered and
propped against a cathedral wall, where
"thedogs could visit," Orozco said.
The stone's first chapter - tells how
"long ago we lived in the happy hunting
grounds in the far north where ice came
-·i.-··
The 24-ton stone is actually a history book. (photo by George
Aguirre)
and predators preyed on us," Orozco
said. This may have been a time of one
of the ice ages, he added .
The stone then tells how the natives
went south to the "red lands," which
Orozco said is where Utah, Arizona and
New Mexico now exist. A drought,
however, forced the Native Americans,
who now called themselves Nahuatl
people, southward again .
They settled, according to the stone,
along seven mountain entrances and divided themselves into seven tribes .
Hurricane force wind forced six of
the tribes to move on, but the. Aztecs
remained and became a powerful
tribe, Orozco said. The seven mountain
entrances are probably located on Mexico's central Pacific coast, he added .
A flood forced the Aztecs to uproot
themselves and they wandered for 200
years mixing with other tribes . They finally settled inland as the other tribes
had done . They moved to high ground,
Tenochtitlan! or where Mexico City
stands today:
It's only been fairly recent since the
stone was deciphered, Orozco said.
He gave much of the credit to Alfonso
Rivas Salmon, who Orozco said, . "is
the only man -1 knew still preoccupied
with truth."
PASS readies retention efforts for target groups
About 33 percent of undergraduates
enrolled in the Spring 79 semester
failed to return to CSUF for the Fall
79 semester, according to campus research figures.
This dropout rate excludes those who
graduated, but represents a large loss
of revenue for the university.
Retention in an age of declining enrollment throughout the California Univeristy and college system is gaining
high priority. A program to improve the
retention rate of low income, the. educationally disadvantaged, the limited
English speaking; the rurally isolated
and handicapped students is underway at CSUF to help turn the tide of
attrition locally.
Progress and Advancement through
Special Services (PASS), coordinated
'If the idea is to educate,
let's keep them on campus'
by Pat Aguirre, was recently granted
funding through August from the
Health, Education and Welfare Department. The program is already applying
for a four-year extension on that special
$82,000 grant.
Aguirre, a 1973 CSUF graduate,
said, "We' re seeking assistance from
the faculty to identify students who have
problems in reading and comprehension,
who may not be prepared for the academic level, or those who have less
than average English language skills."
Once identified, these students will
be focused upon by . the PASS staff
which includes: A reading specialist
who can apply assesment and diagnos-
tic ~kills to reading problems; a mathscience specialist who can help with
basic developmental skills; a bilingual
services coordinator who can help increase language proficiency for the limited English speaking; and a special
student support staff to provide one-onone tutoring services.
Aguirre said PASS will work closely
with those students recruited by the
Recruiting Students Via Parents program. PA~S will help them past the
recruiting stage and help them get
through their four years of college.
The program is concentrating on getting faculty cooperation right now. Faculty are beinR asked to identify those
(continued on page 3)
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
(
CoD1D1entario
Nov. 19, 1979
]
Editorial
Racist undercurrents
Much has been written about the recent campus demonstrations ostensibly protesting the illegal seizure of American embassy personnel in Tehran. One thing
the analysis, letters to the editors, reporting and editorials missed, however, is
the stench of racism that permeated CSUF 's demonstrations and similar events
throughout the country.
One left the demonstrations or the TV set, not so much with an understanding
of why the demonstrators were outraged (that much is obvious), but depressed
by the blatantly anti-Iranian obscenities and endless stream of ignorance. It was
as if all the frustration over summer gas lines, loss of American prestige, inflated cost of dope, mid-term anxieties, disco cover charges and high rents surfaced and focused on Iranians on campus.
"Go home. Go home," the demonstrators chanted regardless of whether the
local Iranians support the taking of hostages in Tehran. Those Iranians who did
reach the podium to express their views were shouted down and had to brave catcalls and name-calling. It's as it first amendment rights are contingent upon skin
color or political viewpoint.
_
There is, of course, no excuse tor the seizure of the U.S. embassy and its personnel in Tehran. However, there is also no excuse for an abridgement of any
U.S. resident's rights, nor a summary call for deportation of Iranians by both the
populace and the government.
Just as the taking of diplomatic hostages for blackmail purposes, if successful,
sets a dangerous pr~edent, the deportation of nationals of a country that has
earned our displeasure also sets one.
If legal Iranian residents can be summarily called in by immigration officials,
can the harrassmentof other legal aliens in the U.S. be far behind?
Should Mexico suddenly raise the price of natural gas, will legal Mexican residents be summoned to defend their right to stay? Will American-born Chicanos
be asked to choose their homeland?
If Japan should up the price of Toyotas and computer parts, will Americans
clamor for the deportation of Japanese? .
·
Probably so. This country is chauvanistic enough to think it is entitled (o
everything. Note the outrage last summer when Iranian oil imports ~re cutoff.
"They cut oft OUR oil, " Americans said. What suddenly makes it ours?
The people who are bringing back into vogue the "America, Jove it or leave it"
slogan, are the same people who com,:,lain. of big govenment, restrictive laws and regulations, high taxes, poor roads and high mortgage rates. For a people who
complain so much, Americans take a dim view of complainers, particularly when
they don ·'t talk or look like the majority.
·
_
The organizers of the demonstrations probably had no intention that -the event
turn into a circus of epithets and American bluster. But that 's what happenened.
Some people have heralded the demonstrations as the student body's long
awaited rise from apathy.
If students rise only to utter racist, chauvanistic, didactic and uneducated
remarks, then maybe apathy is preferable.
The results of the Nov. 6 state and
local elections brought some bad news
for minorities.
Proposition 1, the anti-busing amendment, was pass-~d by an overwhelming
two-to-one margin. And Harry Hiraoka,
the State Center Community College
District incumbent, targeted by minority groups for defeat, handily defeated his opponent, Alexander Rendon.
Prop. 1, authored by state Sen. Alan
Robbins (D-Van Nuys), overcame early
opposition by minority groups and other
busing foes to win with nearly a million
more votes .t han the opposition.
The proposition, however, may do
very little to stop court-ordered busing
in the state. Both Robbins and Prop. 1
opponents expect nothing substantial
to happen until after a court challenge
by opponents is cleared.
Even with that obstacle out of the way,
Rob':>ins contends there is a strong
possibility the amendment may not halt
the busing of school children in the Los
Angeles basin.
The reason is that the proposition does
Report in the works
by Gina Holguin
Voz staff writer
not order an outright halt to busing;
r-ather it says that state courts cannot
interpret the Supreme Court's order in
a broad manner, or go beyond the intent
of the Supreme Court justices.
The student affirmative action committee is trying
"'develop a plan ci
recruitiment , of minorities and women.
Six years ago, the state legislature And also a plan of retention," said Sepulpassed a regulation that all California veda. .
state universities and colleges set up
The committee has also met with vara student affirmative action.plan.
ious community groups. It has sent letThe · plan called for each campus ters to '1igh school counselors, school
. in .the system to submit a report to the superintendents, and deans. The comChancellor~~ office detailing the affir- mittee hopes to receive their input
mative action needs. of their service .on problems_facing the campus and reareas.
commendations.
This year California State University, . , It is mandatory for -all California •
Fresno started work on their student state universities and colleges to subaffirmative action plan. Jay Sepialveda, . mit a student affirmative action report
a student on the committee formed to by January 1980. The Chancellor's
-help draft the plan, said, "'The reason office will then implement these spec;.
for not getting the plan underway was fie recommendations and develop ~
because Baxter neglected to set up the cruiting methods.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has
ordered busing in only two cases of
deliberate segregation, the California
Supreme Court has ordered all schools
racially segregated to take "reasonable
and feasible" steps to integrate. Proposition 1 may overturn that order .
Harry Hiraoka, an SCCCD incumbent
,ince 1966, overcame strident opposition by several minority groups, in particular Chicano organizations.
Hiraoka, in an interview with the Fresno Bee before the campaigns wer,e underway, came out strongly against
affirmative action and bili,:igual educa:ion. He made certain references to Chicanos which were perceived by the Chicano population to be racist.
Alexander Rendon, a junior high
school vice-principal in Fowler, entered
the campaign on the last day of registration. Rendon' s campaign started
slowly but later caught fire with the
backing of minorfty groups in the area.
student affimlative action plan." The
affirmative action committee at CSUF
has been developed by Dr. Robert O.
Bess, who has done much to push the
issue, Sepulveda said.
"The whole objective of student affirEdltor ............... Rrcardo Pimentel
mative action is to develop a plan to
increase the number of underrepresenPhoto Edltor ....... George Aguirre ·
ted groups on campus," said Robert
Segura, a faculty member on the comStaff ................. Gina Holguin
mittee.
Scott LaFee
The committee has sought information
Dora Lara
from every department on what each
Steve Le Vine
is doing in recruiting and retention
Margarita Martinez
of students. They have also been asked
what recruiting problems departments
La Voz de Aztlan Is publlahect by
face and the barriers which keep stu- the Associated Students at Callfordents from attending CSUF.
n la State University, Fresno and the
In conjunction with the departments, . newspaper staff. Un.s igned editorials
the committee also is giving added
or cartoons are the opinions of the La
strength to existing programs, such as
Voz staff and not necessarily the
Ethnic Studies, La Raza studies and Woviews of the Associated Students,
men's studies. Segura said '"Students
CSUF or the State of California.
need a place to feel comfortable and
these groups play an important role."
Anti-busing, Hiraoka win
by Scott ufee
I.a Voz staff writer
. Affirmative action
u
to
Staff Box
La Voz de Aztlan
Pagel
'nority and media subject of Spring course
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz Editor
Aclass highlighting the involvement
and non-involvement of minorities in
themedia is being offered for the Spring
'I) semester through the radio and TV
department.
Listed as RTV 188T in the class
schedule, the course will feature speakasfrom the media and the community,
•adcfressing the minorities' role in the
media.
Dr. William Monson, who usually
teaches standard radio and TV courses
u:h as radio production and funda-
antals of broadcast performance, will
mnduct the new class. He said, "The
pl here is to allow an interreaction
lltween students and members of the
media, to communicate an~ to show
what problems exist in the field for
reporters and those being reported
upon.H
Radio and TV station managers,
owners of newspapers, community
leaders, and reporters will be asked to
speak in the class, Monson said.
The idea for the class grew out of a
meeting between Chicano and Black
students and the Associated Students
media council, an advisory body, last
spring, Monson said. During that meeting minority students voiced their concern over rumors that funding for the
campus minority newspapers, La Voz
and Uhuru, was being cutoff.
Several people at that meeting lamented the absence of any class dealing with
minorities in the- media. This gave
Monson the. idea for the course that will
be offered Mondays from·7 to 10 p.m .
PASS readies retention
fforts for target groups
(continued from page 1)
who might need PASS' services. But
the faculty shouldn't worry whether the
student is low income, from a rurally
isolated area or any of the other criterion, Aguirre said. The special need
ri&ht now is simply to identify those
requiring help, she said.
The program is also trying to identify
those on academic probation.
Aaitic of retention programs might
1'hy students who "can ~t make the
• should be helped to remain in
. Aguirre countered that "The
· ity is facing an enrollment problent We've got the students and if the
fdea is to educate them, then let's
~ them on campus and educate
them..
,
She said detracto,:s· of retention pro-
rams fail to realize·that many students
froin
whole new worldH for many students,
Aguirre said. People in Parlier, for instance, see and hear Spanish wherever
they go in town and attending a university might be something of a #culture shock," Aguirre said.
The students will not be coddled,
ever. "We' re not go_ing to spoon
them," Aguirre said. "The only
they are going to get help is to
themselves."
howfeed
way
help
· Profe·s sors who fear that PASS may
be usurping 'their teaching privileges,
have no reason for concern. Aguirre
said the program will -enable students
who ordinarily bog down a class to keep
up with course work.
"'An instructor cannot be everything
to everybody. There may be someone
who needs more than two hours a week.
We fulfill that need," Aguirre said.
•limited resource back-
' The PASS program is working out
of the financial aids office in the Joyal
noencydopedias in ·the home, or where
building now, t;>ut will soon move to
its own office in Joyal 242. The PASS
Qllne
cnutds/ where there are no libraries,
Enalish is seldom spoken.
The transition to academfcs is
"a
lditorships ·
Available
phone number is 487-2182.
The reason the class has not been
offered earlier, Monson said, is because
of the problem of manpower. For instance, Monson is teaching a full schedule in addition to the new course. With
the exception of the concerns voiced at
the spring media council meeting,
H students haven't exactly clamored for
the class. But it's needed," he added . .
The class is being offered as a topics
course but if the response is favorable,
the class could be inccrporated into the
regular curriculum, Monson said.
A class geared towards Chicanos
and the media was offered through the
La Raza studies department in the Fall
1978 semester. The class explored
access to the media by Chicanos, Chicano publications, and what recourse
Chicanos have to correct misrepresentation and underrepresentation in the
media. The class also produced one
television show through KAIL-TV in
Clovis and a newspaper in conjunction
with the California Advocate newspaper
in West Fresno.
Monson said the new class differs
from earlier efforts because "it is the
first time an attempt is being made to
deliberately get the reaction of all
elements" of the campus . He said that
while a class offered through the La
Raza studies department is in fact open
to all students, students often perceive
La Raza courses as being only for
Chicanos.
"I'm not trying to steal anybody's
thunder," Monson said . "Maybe this
will become an inter-departmental
course." Getting the course implemented in the curriculum is a start, he
added.
Monson is seeking input from students and faculty to decide who should
be asked to speak at the course. Les
Kimber, publisher of the California
Advocate, is the first scheduled speaker.
At a Thursday media council meeting,
Monson announced that the class
was being offered. He said he is contemplating having the course's students
maintain journals throughout the semester . Grades will be determined by the
journals. Monson set the tone for the
class at the meeti_ng . He said, "It's not
the kind of class where you have to agree
with the instructor.
H
Diaz new RSVP cOordinator
The Recruiting Students Via Parents
program (RSVP) is eyeing expansion
after enrolling more than 150 Chicanos
into CSUF last year, said Raul Diaz, 26,
newly appointed coordinator of the program.
.
Diaz, a former counselor at Dinuba
High School, said he ~ould like to include high school freshmen, sophmores
and juniors -in the programs 's recruiting
efforts. During its first year RSVP tar. geted only high school seniors and with
great success, according to Diaz.
The program got off to a late start
last year and th~ actual recruiting began six months into its 12-month pilot
project period. Even with this handicap
the program fulfilled its goals.
Diaz succeeds Dr. Esteban Soriano
as coordinator, who is now student affirmative ·action officer for the California
State University arid Colleg~ system·.
Chicanos have been identified as the_
most underrepresented in the system,
Diaz said.
"We have to reach other grades," he
said, "to get them into college preparatory classes . We haven't been oriented
that way."
Part of the RSVP approach is to get
parents involved in the decision on
whether their children attend college.
"We' re trying to convince them of the
value of education," Diaz said. The parents have been turning ·out for the cultural 11ights the program sponsors .
"It's hard to get 10 people to go to
a PTA meeting, yet here we've been
able to get people to come out," said
Diaz. He estimated that more than
500 people have attended the three cultural nights held so-far this year .
Cultural nights are recruiting efforts
geared toward Chicano _ students and
their parents. Muc~ of the event is conducted -in Spanish and it frequently
features Mexican folk dancing and Marimba bands.
.: What people say about Iranian situation ,. ·
·
·
Photos by Lupe Mora
The A.S. media council is now
accepting applications for the Spring
semester for the editorships of:
La Voz de Aztlan
Uhurn Na Umoja
Daily Collegian
Applications are available in the
A.S. office in the C.U. The filing
deadline Is Dec. 3. Applicants must
present 3 letters of recommendation
and a policy statement. Applicants
must be full-time CSUF students.
For more information,
call the A.S. office at
487-2657.
Ali Kareem, 26, industrial technology
major--"The best way is to explain to
the American people what's going on.
People of Iran have a background of
American action for 37 years. Since one
year ago, the experience with the Ameri ..
can embassy is of doing things against
the Iranian people. The embassy is just
not a normal diplomatic office.
H
Valentina Sepulveda, 22, health science major--"We should _send the shah
back. send him home . They're talking
against the American government (not
the American people). Everything
would be okay if they just give the shah
back."
Paul Marmolejo, 18, accounting major--
HThe president is up for re-election .
He has to make his moves with the intent to satisfy th~ public .... He should
issue an ultimatum. Say '~ither you release the hostages or we' II go in with
force. ' The country is fed up with the
way people are reacting . They' re too
lenient with other countries ."
La Voz de Aztlan
Future CSUF studen
attend Cultural Nigh
at Roosevelt High
Norma Rendon sang with the RHS Marimba ba~d at the
The Roosevelt High School danzantes performed a number of dances.
Photos by
George
Aguirre
..... _...... Dr . .Esteban Soria~,._former R~VP coordinator , talb to the press.
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Special Publication. of The Daily. Collegian
LA VOZ de AZTLAN
Monday
Nov. 19, 1979
Aztec calendar reall a histo
book
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz staff writer
When is an Aztec calendar
ec nor a calendar~
When it is the famous Aztec calendar
on display in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, said Dr. Cecilio
Orozco at a lecture in the college union
Nov. 5.
Orozco, a bilingual-cross cultural
specialist at CSUF, has spent ten years
exploring exactly what La Piedra def
Sol de los Mexicas (the Sun Stone of
the Mexicas) is.
What he discovered was the stone was
not designed to tell what day of the
month it is. Instead, he said, the 24-ton,
12-foot diameter circular stone is a book
chronicling the history of Native Americans from their migration from the far
northern portion of the coptinent to their
settlement of what is now Mexico City .
The stone was actually carved by the
Mexicas, descendants of the Aztecs.
Most people have trouble dealing
with any theory that says that Native
Americans were actually created on
this continent as the stone suggests.
"Most of us are monogenesists. Paradise up the Euphrates, an apple, the rib
and all that stuff," Orozco said. There
are several theories about the origin
of Native Americans, few of which state
that Native Americans originate here.
Orozco cited several theories including speculation that Native Americans
are the survivors of Atlantis, came
over the Bering Straits from Russia into
Alaska, are a lost tribe of Israel, or
are Pacific islanders who came to the
Americas Kon-tiki style. Indian folklore
and tradition, however, in-s ist Native
Americans were created here.
There is some evidence that some Native Americans did come from elsewhere, however. The Olmecs in Mexico
may have come from Africa, Orozco
said. The Terascans of Mexico have been
tied linguistically to the Japanese,
-'~'"''~~
<f,
J/Jf(
'\ '-:
, ;,,,;~A,:
,_.
,,,;.,l
~• -
' '¥ ,·,,,,.;,., - - ~ --"'~
~~·
~L- ~: --
l..
t'~~R ~
',,
'.
....
__
»
.. :;~;~~':'
--·-<=-::•
.4:·
--~::·~:~:;~\-~t~{i;~_. ·~~. -x~iiJ/JJfr1:~;i : ~: . '. :; ·-·
The Aztec calendar in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico
City isn't really a calendar, according to Dr. Cecilio Orozco.
he added.
After Cortez' defeat in his first battle
with the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan
("It's a myth that 300 Spaniards conquered an.empire, Or:ozco said.), Cortez
gathered thousands of native allies and
razed the city the second time. The sun
stone was thrown into the lake surrounding the city, Orozco said.
It was while digging ditches in 1760,
that the stone was uncovered and
propped against a cathedral wall, where
"thedogs could visit," Orozco said.
The stone's first chapter - tells how
"long ago we lived in the happy hunting
grounds in the far north where ice came
-·i.-··
The 24-ton stone is actually a history book. (photo by George
Aguirre)
and predators preyed on us," Orozco
said. This may have been a time of one
of the ice ages, he added .
The stone then tells how the natives
went south to the "red lands," which
Orozco said is where Utah, Arizona and
New Mexico now exist. A drought,
however, forced the Native Americans,
who now called themselves Nahuatl
people, southward again .
They settled, according to the stone,
along seven mountain entrances and divided themselves into seven tribes .
Hurricane force wind forced six of
the tribes to move on, but the. Aztecs
remained and became a powerful
tribe, Orozco said. The seven mountain
entrances are probably located on Mexico's central Pacific coast, he added .
A flood forced the Aztecs to uproot
themselves and they wandered for 200
years mixing with other tribes . They finally settled inland as the other tribes
had done . They moved to high ground,
Tenochtitlan! or where Mexico City
stands today:
It's only been fairly recent since the
stone was deciphered, Orozco said.
He gave much of the credit to Alfonso
Rivas Salmon, who Orozco said, . "is
the only man -1 knew still preoccupied
with truth."
PASS readies retention efforts for target groups
About 33 percent of undergraduates
enrolled in the Spring 79 semester
failed to return to CSUF for the Fall
79 semester, according to campus research figures.
This dropout rate excludes those who
graduated, but represents a large loss
of revenue for the university.
Retention in an age of declining enrollment throughout the California Univeristy and college system is gaining
high priority. A program to improve the
retention rate of low income, the. educationally disadvantaged, the limited
English speaking; the rurally isolated
and handicapped students is underway at CSUF to help turn the tide of
attrition locally.
Progress and Advancement through
Special Services (PASS), coordinated
'If the idea is to educate,
let's keep them on campus'
by Pat Aguirre, was recently granted
funding through August from the
Health, Education and Welfare Department. The program is already applying
for a four-year extension on that special
$82,000 grant.
Aguirre, a 1973 CSUF graduate,
said, "We' re seeking assistance from
the faculty to identify students who have
problems in reading and comprehension,
who may not be prepared for the academic level, or those who have less
than average English language skills."
Once identified, these students will
be focused upon by . the PASS staff
which includes: A reading specialist
who can apply assesment and diagnos-
tic ~kills to reading problems; a mathscience specialist who can help with
basic developmental skills; a bilingual
services coordinator who can help increase language proficiency for the limited English speaking; and a special
student support staff to provide one-onone tutoring services.
Aguirre said PASS will work closely
with those students recruited by the
Recruiting Students Via Parents program. PA~S will help them past the
recruiting stage and help them get
through their four years of college.
The program is concentrating on getting faculty cooperation right now. Faculty are beinR asked to identify those
(continued on page 3)
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
(
CoD1D1entario
Nov. 19, 1979
]
Editorial
Racist undercurrents
Much has been written about the recent campus demonstrations ostensibly protesting the illegal seizure of American embassy personnel in Tehran. One thing
the analysis, letters to the editors, reporting and editorials missed, however, is
the stench of racism that permeated CSUF 's demonstrations and similar events
throughout the country.
One left the demonstrations or the TV set, not so much with an understanding
of why the demonstrators were outraged (that much is obvious), but depressed
by the blatantly anti-Iranian obscenities and endless stream of ignorance. It was
as if all the frustration over summer gas lines, loss of American prestige, inflated cost of dope, mid-term anxieties, disco cover charges and high rents surfaced and focused on Iranians on campus.
"Go home. Go home," the demonstrators chanted regardless of whether the
local Iranians support the taking of hostages in Tehran. Those Iranians who did
reach the podium to express their views were shouted down and had to brave catcalls and name-calling. It's as it first amendment rights are contingent upon skin
color or political viewpoint.
_
There is, of course, no excuse tor the seizure of the U.S. embassy and its personnel in Tehran. However, there is also no excuse for an abridgement of any
U.S. resident's rights, nor a summary call for deportation of Iranians by both the
populace and the government.
Just as the taking of diplomatic hostages for blackmail purposes, if successful,
sets a dangerous pr~edent, the deportation of nationals of a country that has
earned our displeasure also sets one.
If legal Iranian residents can be summarily called in by immigration officials,
can the harrassmentof other legal aliens in the U.S. be far behind?
Should Mexico suddenly raise the price of natural gas, will legal Mexican residents be summoned to defend their right to stay? Will American-born Chicanos
be asked to choose their homeland?
If Japan should up the price of Toyotas and computer parts, will Americans
clamor for the deportation of Japanese? .
·
Probably so. This country is chauvanistic enough to think it is entitled (o
everything. Note the outrage last summer when Iranian oil imports ~re cutoff.
"They cut oft OUR oil, " Americans said. What suddenly makes it ours?
The people who are bringing back into vogue the "America, Jove it or leave it"
slogan, are the same people who com,:,lain. of big govenment, restrictive laws and regulations, high taxes, poor roads and high mortgage rates. For a people who
complain so much, Americans take a dim view of complainers, particularly when
they don ·'t talk or look like the majority.
·
_
The organizers of the demonstrations probably had no intention that -the event
turn into a circus of epithets and American bluster. But that 's what happenened.
Some people have heralded the demonstrations as the student body's long
awaited rise from apathy.
If students rise only to utter racist, chauvanistic, didactic and uneducated
remarks, then maybe apathy is preferable.
The results of the Nov. 6 state and
local elections brought some bad news
for minorities.
Proposition 1, the anti-busing amendment, was pass-~d by an overwhelming
two-to-one margin. And Harry Hiraoka,
the State Center Community College
District incumbent, targeted by minority groups for defeat, handily defeated his opponent, Alexander Rendon.
Prop. 1, authored by state Sen. Alan
Robbins (D-Van Nuys), overcame early
opposition by minority groups and other
busing foes to win with nearly a million
more votes .t han the opposition.
The proposition, however, may do
very little to stop court-ordered busing
in the state. Both Robbins and Prop. 1
opponents expect nothing substantial
to happen until after a court challenge
by opponents is cleared.
Even with that obstacle out of the way,
Rob':>ins contends there is a strong
possibility the amendment may not halt
the busing of school children in the Los
Angeles basin.
The reason is that the proposition does
Report in the works
by Gina Holguin
Voz staff writer
not order an outright halt to busing;
r-ather it says that state courts cannot
interpret the Supreme Court's order in
a broad manner, or go beyond the intent
of the Supreme Court justices.
The student affirmative action committee is trying
"'develop a plan ci
recruitiment , of minorities and women.
Six years ago, the state legislature And also a plan of retention," said Sepulpassed a regulation that all California veda. .
state universities and colleges set up
The committee has also met with vara student affirmative action.plan.
ious community groups. It has sent letThe · plan called for each campus ters to '1igh school counselors, school
. in .the system to submit a report to the superintendents, and deans. The comChancellor~~ office detailing the affir- mittee hopes to receive their input
mative action needs. of their service .on problems_facing the campus and reareas.
commendations.
This year California State University, . , It is mandatory for -all California •
Fresno started work on their student state universities and colleges to subaffirmative action plan. Jay Sepialveda, . mit a student affirmative action report
a student on the committee formed to by January 1980. The Chancellor's
-help draft the plan, said, "'The reason office will then implement these spec;.
for not getting the plan underway was fie recommendations and develop ~
because Baxter neglected to set up the cruiting methods.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has
ordered busing in only two cases of
deliberate segregation, the California
Supreme Court has ordered all schools
racially segregated to take "reasonable
and feasible" steps to integrate. Proposition 1 may overturn that order .
Harry Hiraoka, an SCCCD incumbent
,ince 1966, overcame strident opposition by several minority groups, in particular Chicano organizations.
Hiraoka, in an interview with the Fresno Bee before the campaigns wer,e underway, came out strongly against
affirmative action and bili,:igual educa:ion. He made certain references to Chicanos which were perceived by the Chicano population to be racist.
Alexander Rendon, a junior high
school vice-principal in Fowler, entered
the campaign on the last day of registration. Rendon' s campaign started
slowly but later caught fire with the
backing of minorfty groups in the area.
student affimlative action plan." The
affirmative action committee at CSUF
has been developed by Dr. Robert O.
Bess, who has done much to push the
issue, Sepulveda said.
"The whole objective of student affirEdltor ............... Rrcardo Pimentel
mative action is to develop a plan to
increase the number of underrepresenPhoto Edltor ....... George Aguirre ·
ted groups on campus," said Robert
Segura, a faculty member on the comStaff ................. Gina Holguin
mittee.
Scott LaFee
The committee has sought information
Dora Lara
from every department on what each
Steve Le Vine
is doing in recruiting and retention
Margarita Martinez
of students. They have also been asked
what recruiting problems departments
La Voz de Aztlan Is publlahect by
face and the barriers which keep stu- the Associated Students at Callfordents from attending CSUF.
n la State University, Fresno and the
In conjunction with the departments, . newspaper staff. Un.s igned editorials
the committee also is giving added
or cartoons are the opinions of the La
strength to existing programs, such as
Voz staff and not necessarily the
Ethnic Studies, La Raza studies and Woviews of the Associated Students,
men's studies. Segura said '"Students
CSUF or the State of California.
need a place to feel comfortable and
these groups play an important role."
Anti-busing, Hiraoka win
by Scott ufee
I.a Voz staff writer
. Affirmative action
u
to
Staff Box
La Voz de Aztlan
Pagel
'nority and media subject of Spring course
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz Editor
Aclass highlighting the involvement
and non-involvement of minorities in
themedia is being offered for the Spring
'I) semester through the radio and TV
department.
Listed as RTV 188T in the class
schedule, the course will feature speakasfrom the media and the community,
•adcfressing the minorities' role in the
media.
Dr. William Monson, who usually
teaches standard radio and TV courses
u:h as radio production and funda-
antals of broadcast performance, will
mnduct the new class. He said, "The
pl here is to allow an interreaction
lltween students and members of the
media, to communicate an~ to show
what problems exist in the field for
reporters and those being reported
upon.H
Radio and TV station managers,
owners of newspapers, community
leaders, and reporters will be asked to
speak in the class, Monson said.
The idea for the class grew out of a
meeting between Chicano and Black
students and the Associated Students
media council, an advisory body, last
spring, Monson said. During that meeting minority students voiced their concern over rumors that funding for the
campus minority newspapers, La Voz
and Uhuru, was being cutoff.
Several people at that meeting lamented the absence of any class dealing with
minorities in the- media. This gave
Monson the. idea for the course that will
be offered Mondays from·7 to 10 p.m .
PASS readies retention
fforts for target groups
(continued from page 1)
who might need PASS' services. But
the faculty shouldn't worry whether the
student is low income, from a rurally
isolated area or any of the other criterion, Aguirre said. The special need
ri&ht now is simply to identify those
requiring help, she said.
The program is also trying to identify
those on academic probation.
Aaitic of retention programs might
1'hy students who "can ~t make the
• should be helped to remain in
. Aguirre countered that "The
· ity is facing an enrollment problent We've got the students and if the
fdea is to educate them, then let's
~ them on campus and educate
them..
,
She said detracto,:s· of retention pro-
rams fail to realize·that many students
froin
whole new worldH for many students,
Aguirre said. People in Parlier, for instance, see and hear Spanish wherever
they go in town and attending a university might be something of a #culture shock," Aguirre said.
The students will not be coddled,
ever. "We' re not go_ing to spoon
them," Aguirre said. "The only
they are going to get help is to
themselves."
howfeed
way
help
· Profe·s sors who fear that PASS may
be usurping 'their teaching privileges,
have no reason for concern. Aguirre
said the program will -enable students
who ordinarily bog down a class to keep
up with course work.
"'An instructor cannot be everything
to everybody. There may be someone
who needs more than two hours a week.
We fulfill that need," Aguirre said.
•limited resource back-
' The PASS program is working out
of the financial aids office in the Joyal
noencydopedias in ·the home, or where
building now, t;>ut will soon move to
its own office in Joyal 242. The PASS
Qllne
cnutds/ where there are no libraries,
Enalish is seldom spoken.
The transition to academfcs is
"a
lditorships ·
Available
phone number is 487-2182.
The reason the class has not been
offered earlier, Monson said, is because
of the problem of manpower. For instance, Monson is teaching a full schedule in addition to the new course. With
the exception of the concerns voiced at
the spring media council meeting,
H students haven't exactly clamored for
the class. But it's needed," he added . .
The class is being offered as a topics
course but if the response is favorable,
the class could be inccrporated into the
regular curriculum, Monson said.
A class geared towards Chicanos
and the media was offered through the
La Raza studies department in the Fall
1978 semester. The class explored
access to the media by Chicanos, Chicano publications, and what recourse
Chicanos have to correct misrepresentation and underrepresentation in the
media. The class also produced one
television show through KAIL-TV in
Clovis and a newspaper in conjunction
with the California Advocate newspaper
in West Fresno.
Monson said the new class differs
from earlier efforts because "it is the
first time an attempt is being made to
deliberately get the reaction of all
elements" of the campus . He said that
while a class offered through the La
Raza studies department is in fact open
to all students, students often perceive
La Raza courses as being only for
Chicanos.
"I'm not trying to steal anybody's
thunder," Monson said . "Maybe this
will become an inter-departmental
course." Getting the course implemented in the curriculum is a start, he
added.
Monson is seeking input from students and faculty to decide who should
be asked to speak at the course. Les
Kimber, publisher of the California
Advocate, is the first scheduled speaker.
At a Thursday media council meeting,
Monson announced that the class
was being offered. He said he is contemplating having the course's students
maintain journals throughout the semester . Grades will be determined by the
journals. Monson set the tone for the
class at the meeti_ng . He said, "It's not
the kind of class where you have to agree
with the instructor.
H
Diaz new RSVP cOordinator
The Recruiting Students Via Parents
program (RSVP) is eyeing expansion
after enrolling more than 150 Chicanos
into CSUF last year, said Raul Diaz, 26,
newly appointed coordinator of the program.
.
Diaz, a former counselor at Dinuba
High School, said he ~ould like to include high school freshmen, sophmores
and juniors -in the programs 's recruiting
efforts. During its first year RSVP tar. geted only high school seniors and with
great success, according to Diaz.
The program got off to a late start
last year and th~ actual recruiting began six months into its 12-month pilot
project period. Even with this handicap
the program fulfilled its goals.
Diaz succeeds Dr. Esteban Soriano
as coordinator, who is now student affirmative ·action officer for the California
State University arid Colleg~ system·.
Chicanos have been identified as the_
most underrepresented in the system,
Diaz said.
"We have to reach other grades," he
said, "to get them into college preparatory classes . We haven't been oriented
that way."
Part of the RSVP approach is to get
parents involved in the decision on
whether their children attend college.
"We' re trying to convince them of the
value of education," Diaz said. The parents have been turning ·out for the cultural 11ights the program sponsors .
"It's hard to get 10 people to go to
a PTA meeting, yet here we've been
able to get people to come out," said
Diaz. He estimated that more than
500 people have attended the three cultural nights held so-far this year .
Cultural nights are recruiting efforts
geared toward Chicano _ students and
their parents. Muc~ of the event is conducted -in Spanish and it frequently
features Mexican folk dancing and Marimba bands.
.: What people say about Iranian situation ,. ·
·
·
Photos by Lupe Mora
The A.S. media council is now
accepting applications for the Spring
semester for the editorships of:
La Voz de Aztlan
Uhurn Na Umoja
Daily Collegian
Applications are available in the
A.S. office in the C.U. The filing
deadline Is Dec. 3. Applicants must
present 3 letters of recommendation
and a policy statement. Applicants
must be full-time CSUF students.
For more information,
call the A.S. office at
487-2657.
Ali Kareem, 26, industrial technology
major--"The best way is to explain to
the American people what's going on.
People of Iran have a background of
American action for 37 years. Since one
year ago, the experience with the Ameri ..
can embassy is of doing things against
the Iranian people. The embassy is just
not a normal diplomatic office.
H
Valentina Sepulveda, 22, health science major--"We should _send the shah
back. send him home . They're talking
against the American government (not
the American people). Everything
would be okay if they just give the shah
back."
Paul Marmolejo, 18, accounting major--
HThe president is up for re-election .
He has to make his moves with the intent to satisfy th~ public .... He should
issue an ultimatum. Say '~ither you release the hostages or we' II go in with
force. ' The country is fed up with the
way people are reacting . They' re too
lenient with other countries ."
La Voz de Aztlan
Future CSUF studen
attend Cultural Nigh
at Roosevelt High
Norma Rendon sang with the RHS Marimba ba~d at the
The Roosevelt High School danzantes performed a number of dances.
Photos by
George
Aguirre
..... _...... Dr . .Esteban Soria~,._former R~VP coordinator , talb to the press.
t
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I
LA VOZ de AZTLAN
Monday
Nov. 19, 1979
Aztec calendar reall a histo
book
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz staff writer
When is an Aztec calendar
ec nor a calendar~
When it is the famous Aztec calendar
on display in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, said Dr. Cecilio
Orozco at a lecture in the college union
Nov. 5.
Orozco, a bilingual-cross cultural
specialist at CSUF, has spent ten years
exploring exactly what La Piedra def
Sol de los Mexicas (the Sun Stone of
the Mexicas) is.
What he discovered was the stone was
not designed to tell what day of the
month it is. Instead, he said, the 24-ton,
12-foot diameter circular stone is a book
chronicling the history of Native Americans from their migration from the far
northern portion of the coptinent to their
settlement of what is now Mexico City .
The stone was actually carved by the
Mexicas, descendants of the Aztecs.
Most people have trouble dealing
with any theory that says that Native
Americans were actually created on
this continent as the stone suggests.
"Most of us are monogenesists. Paradise up the Euphrates, an apple, the rib
and all that stuff," Orozco said. There
are several theories about the origin
of Native Americans, few of which state
that Native Americans originate here.
Orozco cited several theories including speculation that Native Americans
are the survivors of Atlantis, came
over the Bering Straits from Russia into
Alaska, are a lost tribe of Israel, or
are Pacific islanders who came to the
Americas Kon-tiki style. Indian folklore
and tradition, however, in-s ist Native
Americans were created here.
There is some evidence that some Native Americans did come from elsewhere, however. The Olmecs in Mexico
may have come from Africa, Orozco
said. The Terascans of Mexico have been
tied linguistically to the Japanese,
-'~'"''~~
<f,
J/Jf(
'\ '-:
, ;,,,;~A,:
,_.
,,,;.,l
~• -
' '¥ ,·,,,,.;,., - - ~ --"'~
~~·
~L- ~: --
l..
t'~~R ~
',,
'.
....
__
»
.. :;~;~~':'
--·-<=-::•
.4:·
--~::·~:~:;~\-~t~{i;~_. ·~~. -x~iiJ/JJfr1:~;i : ~: . '. :; ·-·
The Aztec calendar in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico
City isn't really a calendar, according to Dr. Cecilio Orozco.
he added.
After Cortez' defeat in his first battle
with the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan
("It's a myth that 300 Spaniards conquered an.empire, Or:ozco said.), Cortez
gathered thousands of native allies and
razed the city the second time. The sun
stone was thrown into the lake surrounding the city, Orozco said.
It was while digging ditches in 1760,
that the stone was uncovered and
propped against a cathedral wall, where
"thedogs could visit," Orozco said.
The stone's first chapter - tells how
"long ago we lived in the happy hunting
grounds in the far north where ice came
-·i.-··
The 24-ton stone is actually a history book. (photo by George
Aguirre)
and predators preyed on us," Orozco
said. This may have been a time of one
of the ice ages, he added .
The stone then tells how the natives
went south to the "red lands," which
Orozco said is where Utah, Arizona and
New Mexico now exist. A drought,
however, forced the Native Americans,
who now called themselves Nahuatl
people, southward again .
They settled, according to the stone,
along seven mountain entrances and divided themselves into seven tribes .
Hurricane force wind forced six of
the tribes to move on, but the. Aztecs
remained and became a powerful
tribe, Orozco said. The seven mountain
entrances are probably located on Mexico's central Pacific coast, he added .
A flood forced the Aztecs to uproot
themselves and they wandered for 200
years mixing with other tribes . They finally settled inland as the other tribes
had done . They moved to high ground,
Tenochtitlan! or where Mexico City
stands today:
It's only been fairly recent since the
stone was deciphered, Orozco said.
He gave much of the credit to Alfonso
Rivas Salmon, who Orozco said, . "is
the only man -1 knew still preoccupied
with truth."
PASS readies retention efforts for target groups
About 33 percent of undergraduates
enrolled in the Spring 79 semester
failed to return to CSUF for the Fall
79 semester, according to campus research figures.
This dropout rate excludes those who
graduated, but represents a large loss
of revenue for the university.
Retention in an age of declining enrollment throughout the California Univeristy and college system is gaining
high priority. A program to improve the
retention rate of low income, the. educationally disadvantaged, the limited
English speaking; the rurally isolated
and handicapped students is underway at CSUF to help turn the tide of
attrition locally.
Progress and Advancement through
Special Services (PASS), coordinated
'If the idea is to educate,
let's keep them on campus'
by Pat Aguirre, was recently granted
funding through August from the
Health, Education and Welfare Department. The program is already applying
for a four-year extension on that special
$82,000 grant.
Aguirre, a 1973 CSUF graduate,
said, "We' re seeking assistance from
the faculty to identify students who have
problems in reading and comprehension,
who may not be prepared for the academic level, or those who have less
than average English language skills."
Once identified, these students will
be focused upon by . the PASS staff
which includes: A reading specialist
who can apply assesment and diagnos-
tic ~kills to reading problems; a mathscience specialist who can help with
basic developmental skills; a bilingual
services coordinator who can help increase language proficiency for the limited English speaking; and a special
student support staff to provide one-onone tutoring services.
Aguirre said PASS will work closely
with those students recruited by the
Recruiting Students Via Parents program. PA~S will help them past the
recruiting stage and help them get
through their four years of college.
The program is concentrating on getting faculty cooperation right now. Faculty are beinR asked to identify those
(continued on page 3)
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
(
CoD1D1entario
Nov. 19, 1979
]
Editorial
Racist undercurrents
Much has been written about the recent campus demonstrations ostensibly protesting the illegal seizure of American embassy personnel in Tehran. One thing
the analysis, letters to the editors, reporting and editorials missed, however, is
the stench of racism that permeated CSUF 's demonstrations and similar events
throughout the country.
One left the demonstrations or the TV set, not so much with an understanding
of why the demonstrators were outraged (that much is obvious), but depressed
by the blatantly anti-Iranian obscenities and endless stream of ignorance. It was
as if all the frustration over summer gas lines, loss of American prestige, inflated cost of dope, mid-term anxieties, disco cover charges and high rents surfaced and focused on Iranians on campus.
"Go home. Go home," the demonstrators chanted regardless of whether the
local Iranians support the taking of hostages in Tehran. Those Iranians who did
reach the podium to express their views were shouted down and had to brave catcalls and name-calling. It's as it first amendment rights are contingent upon skin
color or political viewpoint.
_
There is, of course, no excuse tor the seizure of the U.S. embassy and its personnel in Tehran. However, there is also no excuse for an abridgement of any
U.S. resident's rights, nor a summary call for deportation of Iranians by both the
populace and the government.
Just as the taking of diplomatic hostages for blackmail purposes, if successful,
sets a dangerous pr~edent, the deportation of nationals of a country that has
earned our displeasure also sets one.
If legal Iranian residents can be summarily called in by immigration officials,
can the harrassmentof other legal aliens in the U.S. be far behind?
Should Mexico suddenly raise the price of natural gas, will legal Mexican residents be summoned to defend their right to stay? Will American-born Chicanos
be asked to choose their homeland?
If Japan should up the price of Toyotas and computer parts, will Americans
clamor for the deportation of Japanese? .
·
Probably so. This country is chauvanistic enough to think it is entitled (o
everything. Note the outrage last summer when Iranian oil imports ~re cutoff.
"They cut oft OUR oil, " Americans said. What suddenly makes it ours?
The people who are bringing back into vogue the "America, Jove it or leave it"
slogan, are the same people who com,:,lain. of big govenment, restrictive laws and regulations, high taxes, poor roads and high mortgage rates. For a people who
complain so much, Americans take a dim view of complainers, particularly when
they don ·'t talk or look like the majority.
·
_
The organizers of the demonstrations probably had no intention that -the event
turn into a circus of epithets and American bluster. But that 's what happenened.
Some people have heralded the demonstrations as the student body's long
awaited rise from apathy.
If students rise only to utter racist, chauvanistic, didactic and uneducated
remarks, then maybe apathy is preferable.
The results of the Nov. 6 state and
local elections brought some bad news
for minorities.
Proposition 1, the anti-busing amendment, was pass-~d by an overwhelming
two-to-one margin. And Harry Hiraoka,
the State Center Community College
District incumbent, targeted by minority groups for defeat, handily defeated his opponent, Alexander Rendon.
Prop. 1, authored by state Sen. Alan
Robbins (D-Van Nuys), overcame early
opposition by minority groups and other
busing foes to win with nearly a million
more votes .t han the opposition.
The proposition, however, may do
very little to stop court-ordered busing
in the state. Both Robbins and Prop. 1
opponents expect nothing substantial
to happen until after a court challenge
by opponents is cleared.
Even with that obstacle out of the way,
Rob':>ins contends there is a strong
possibility the amendment may not halt
the busing of school children in the Los
Angeles basin.
The reason is that the proposition does
Report in the works
by Gina Holguin
Voz staff writer
not order an outright halt to busing;
r-ather it says that state courts cannot
interpret the Supreme Court's order in
a broad manner, or go beyond the intent
of the Supreme Court justices.
The student affirmative action committee is trying
"'develop a plan ci
recruitiment , of minorities and women.
Six years ago, the state legislature And also a plan of retention," said Sepulpassed a regulation that all California veda. .
state universities and colleges set up
The committee has also met with vara student affirmative action.plan.
ious community groups. It has sent letThe · plan called for each campus ters to '1igh school counselors, school
. in .the system to submit a report to the superintendents, and deans. The comChancellor~~ office detailing the affir- mittee hopes to receive their input
mative action needs. of their service .on problems_facing the campus and reareas.
commendations.
This year California State University, . , It is mandatory for -all California •
Fresno started work on their student state universities and colleges to subaffirmative action plan. Jay Sepialveda, . mit a student affirmative action report
a student on the committee formed to by January 1980. The Chancellor's
-help draft the plan, said, "'The reason office will then implement these spec;.
for not getting the plan underway was fie recommendations and develop ~
because Baxter neglected to set up the cruiting methods.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has
ordered busing in only two cases of
deliberate segregation, the California
Supreme Court has ordered all schools
racially segregated to take "reasonable
and feasible" steps to integrate. Proposition 1 may overturn that order .
Harry Hiraoka, an SCCCD incumbent
,ince 1966, overcame strident opposition by several minority groups, in particular Chicano organizations.
Hiraoka, in an interview with the Fresno Bee before the campaigns wer,e underway, came out strongly against
affirmative action and bili,:igual educa:ion. He made certain references to Chicanos which were perceived by the Chicano population to be racist.
Alexander Rendon, a junior high
school vice-principal in Fowler, entered
the campaign on the last day of registration. Rendon' s campaign started
slowly but later caught fire with the
backing of minorfty groups in the area.
student affimlative action plan." The
affirmative action committee at CSUF
has been developed by Dr. Robert O.
Bess, who has done much to push the
issue, Sepulveda said.
"The whole objective of student affirEdltor ............... Rrcardo Pimentel
mative action is to develop a plan to
increase the number of underrepresenPhoto Edltor ....... George Aguirre ·
ted groups on campus," said Robert
Segura, a faculty member on the comStaff ................. Gina Holguin
mittee.
Scott LaFee
The committee has sought information
Dora Lara
from every department on what each
Steve Le Vine
is doing in recruiting and retention
Margarita Martinez
of students. They have also been asked
what recruiting problems departments
La Voz de Aztlan Is publlahect by
face and the barriers which keep stu- the Associated Students at Callfordents from attending CSUF.
n la State University, Fresno and the
In conjunction with the departments, . newspaper staff. Un.s igned editorials
the committee also is giving added
or cartoons are the opinions of the La
strength to existing programs, such as
Voz staff and not necessarily the
Ethnic Studies, La Raza studies and Woviews of the Associated Students,
men's studies. Segura said '"Students
CSUF or the State of California.
need a place to feel comfortable and
these groups play an important role."
Anti-busing, Hiraoka win
by Scott ufee
I.a Voz staff writer
. Affirmative action
u
to
Staff Box
La Voz de Aztlan
Pagel
'nority and media subject of Spring course
by Ricardo Pimentel
La Voz Editor
Aclass highlighting the involvement
and non-involvement of minorities in
themedia is being offered for the Spring
'I) semester through the radio and TV
department.
Listed as RTV 188T in the class
schedule, the course will feature speakasfrom the media and the community,
•adcfressing the minorities' role in the
media.
Dr. William Monson, who usually
teaches standard radio and TV courses
u:h as radio production and funda-
antals of broadcast performance, will
mnduct the new class. He said, "The
pl here is to allow an interreaction
lltween students and members of the
media, to communicate an~ to show
what problems exist in the field for
reporters and those being reported
upon.H
Radio and TV station managers,
owners of newspapers, community
leaders, and reporters will be asked to
speak in the class, Monson said.
The idea for the class grew out of a
meeting between Chicano and Black
students and the Associated Students
media council, an advisory body, last
spring, Monson said. During that meeting minority students voiced their concern over rumors that funding for the
campus minority newspapers, La Voz
and Uhuru, was being cutoff.
Several people at that meeting lamented the absence of any class dealing with
minorities in the- media. This gave
Monson the. idea for the course that will
be offered Mondays from·7 to 10 p.m .
PASS readies retention
fforts for target groups
(continued from page 1)
who might need PASS' services. But
the faculty shouldn't worry whether the
student is low income, from a rurally
isolated area or any of the other criterion, Aguirre said. The special need
ri&ht now is simply to identify those
requiring help, she said.
The program is also trying to identify
those on academic probation.
Aaitic of retention programs might
1'hy students who "can ~t make the
• should be helped to remain in
. Aguirre countered that "The
· ity is facing an enrollment problent We've got the students and if the
fdea is to educate them, then let's
~ them on campus and educate
them..
,
She said detracto,:s· of retention pro-
rams fail to realize·that many students
froin
whole new worldH for many students,
Aguirre said. People in Parlier, for instance, see and hear Spanish wherever
they go in town and attending a university might be something of a #culture shock," Aguirre said.
The students will not be coddled,
ever. "We' re not go_ing to spoon
them," Aguirre said. "The only
they are going to get help is to
themselves."
howfeed
way
help
· Profe·s sors who fear that PASS may
be usurping 'their teaching privileges,
have no reason for concern. Aguirre
said the program will -enable students
who ordinarily bog down a class to keep
up with course work.
"'An instructor cannot be everything
to everybody. There may be someone
who needs more than two hours a week.
We fulfill that need," Aguirre said.
•limited resource back-
' The PASS program is working out
of the financial aids office in the Joyal
noencydopedias in ·the home, or where
building now, t;>ut will soon move to
its own office in Joyal 242. The PASS
Qllne
cnutds/ where there are no libraries,
Enalish is seldom spoken.
The transition to academfcs is
"a
lditorships ·
Available
phone number is 487-2182.
The reason the class has not been
offered earlier, Monson said, is because
of the problem of manpower. For instance, Monson is teaching a full schedule in addition to the new course. With
the exception of the concerns voiced at
the spring media council meeting,
H students haven't exactly clamored for
the class. But it's needed," he added . .
The class is being offered as a topics
course but if the response is favorable,
the class could be inccrporated into the
regular curriculum, Monson said.
A class geared towards Chicanos
and the media was offered through the
La Raza studies department in the Fall
1978 semester. The class explored
access to the media by Chicanos, Chicano publications, and what recourse
Chicanos have to correct misrepresentation and underrepresentation in the
media. The class also produced one
television show through KAIL-TV in
Clovis and a newspaper in conjunction
with the California Advocate newspaper
in West Fresno.
Monson said the new class differs
from earlier efforts because "it is the
first time an attempt is being made to
deliberately get the reaction of all
elements" of the campus . He said that
while a class offered through the La
Raza studies department is in fact open
to all students, students often perceive
La Raza courses as being only for
Chicanos.
"I'm not trying to steal anybody's
thunder," Monson said . "Maybe this
will become an inter-departmental
course." Getting the course implemented in the curriculum is a start, he
added.
Monson is seeking input from students and faculty to decide who should
be asked to speak at the course. Les
Kimber, publisher of the California
Advocate, is the first scheduled speaker.
At a Thursday media council meeting,
Monson announced that the class
was being offered. He said he is contemplating having the course's students
maintain journals throughout the semester . Grades will be determined by the
journals. Monson set the tone for the
class at the meeti_ng . He said, "It's not
the kind of class where you have to agree
with the instructor.
H
Diaz new RSVP cOordinator
The Recruiting Students Via Parents
program (RSVP) is eyeing expansion
after enrolling more than 150 Chicanos
into CSUF last year, said Raul Diaz, 26,
newly appointed coordinator of the program.
.
Diaz, a former counselor at Dinuba
High School, said he ~ould like to include high school freshmen, sophmores
and juniors -in the programs 's recruiting
efforts. During its first year RSVP tar. geted only high school seniors and with
great success, according to Diaz.
The program got off to a late start
last year and th~ actual recruiting began six months into its 12-month pilot
project period. Even with this handicap
the program fulfilled its goals.
Diaz succeeds Dr. Esteban Soriano
as coordinator, who is now student affirmative ·action officer for the California
State University arid Colleg~ system·.
Chicanos have been identified as the_
most underrepresented in the system,
Diaz said.
"We have to reach other grades," he
said, "to get them into college preparatory classes . We haven't been oriented
that way."
Part of the RSVP approach is to get
parents involved in the decision on
whether their children attend college.
"We' re trying to convince them of the
value of education," Diaz said. The parents have been turning ·out for the cultural 11ights the program sponsors .
"It's hard to get 10 people to go to
a PTA meeting, yet here we've been
able to get people to come out," said
Diaz. He estimated that more than
500 people have attended the three cultural nights held so-far this year .
Cultural nights are recruiting efforts
geared toward Chicano _ students and
their parents. Muc~ of the event is conducted -in Spanish and it frequently
features Mexican folk dancing and Marimba bands.
.: What people say about Iranian situation ,. ·
·
·
Photos by Lupe Mora
The A.S. media council is now
accepting applications for the Spring
semester for the editorships of:
La Voz de Aztlan
Uhurn Na Umoja
Daily Collegian
Applications are available in the
A.S. office in the C.U. The filing
deadline Is Dec. 3. Applicants must
present 3 letters of recommendation
and a policy statement. Applicants
must be full-time CSUF students.
For more information,
call the A.S. office at
487-2657.
Ali Kareem, 26, industrial technology
major--"The best way is to explain to
the American people what's going on.
People of Iran have a background of
American action for 37 years. Since one
year ago, the experience with the Ameri ..
can embassy is of doing things against
the Iranian people. The embassy is just
not a normal diplomatic office.
H
Valentina Sepulveda, 22, health science major--"We should _send the shah
back. send him home . They're talking
against the American government (not
the American people). Everything
would be okay if they just give the shah
back."
Paul Marmolejo, 18, accounting major--
HThe president is up for re-election .
He has to make his moves with the intent to satisfy th~ public .... He should
issue an ultimatum. Say '~ither you release the hostages or we' II go in with
force. ' The country is fed up with the
way people are reacting . They' re too
lenient with other countries ."
La Voz de Aztlan
Future CSUF studen
attend Cultural Nigh
at Roosevelt High
Norma Rendon sang with the RHS Marimba ba~d at the
The Roosevelt High School danzantes performed a number of dances.
Photos by
George
Aguirre
..... _...... Dr . .Esteban Soria~,._former R~VP coordinator , talb to the press.
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