La Voz de Aztlan, March 18 1982
Item
Title
La Voz de Aztlan, March 18 1982
Creator
Associated Students of Fresno State
Relation
La Voz de Aztlan (Daily Collegian, California State University, Fresno)
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
3/18/1982
Format
PDF
Identifier
SCUA_lvda_00139
extracted text
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La Voz Staff Writer
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AZTLAN
Thursday, Marc_h 18, 1982
California State University, Fresno
By Bobby Rodriguez
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CCVMC Oppo.se
Sale of VMC
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors
recently elected to spend an additional
$40,000 to $50,000 to look into whether
Va·lley Medical Cente r should be converted into a private non-profit
organization.
The meeting was preceeded by a rally
held at VMC, where about 50 people
gathered to voice their opposition to the
proposed sale of VMC. The Community
Coalition on Valley Medical Center spear
headed the rally and is the driving force
behind the opposition. Spokesman for
CCVMC, Bill Plumb said "They opposed
the sale and conversi on of VMC to a
private, non-profi t organization." He
added that the poor of the community
would not receive adequate care under the
proposed plan.
At the public heari ng other members of
the CCVM C r eiterated Plumb's
sentiments. Others speaking in opposition
included members of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom,
United Black Men of Fresno, Parlier City
Council members , the Fresno-Madera
Medical Society, and Councilman Leonel
Alvarado.
Councilman Alvarado requested that
the Board look carefully at the possible
ramifications involved in the selling of
VMC, which include the medical education the hospital now provides, the 1300
employees whose future at VMC is unsure, the Industrial Development Bonds,
and the Medical needs of Fresno County's
farmworker population.
The Board of Supervisors. however,
elected to go ahead with the County
Administrative Office's recommendation
that it prepare a detailed plan for the
conversion.
What that will mean according to
CCV MC is that the poor residents of the
community will be prevented from receiving medical care. And the cost affects all
residents, not only those individuals denied access to treatment. The County's
policy CCVMC maintains will also limit
pregnant women access to prenatal care.
That means that women with high-risk
conditions will not be able to receive the
monitoring and care that is proven to
prevent disabilities, debilitating diseases,
and infant mortality.
Valley Medical Center is the sole public
county hospital remaining in the Central
San Joaquin Valley, and it is also the
primary institution in the Central Valley
serving the indigent and Medi-Cal population. In addition, it . is a regional
institution in that it is a medical training
facility. Whether VMC remains true to its
state is still to be seen. The administrative
office's findings will be presented to the
Board at another public hearing on July
20 at 2 p.m.
VM C is the sole county
hospital in SJV
Valenzuela: Candidate for Supervisor
By Fernando Quintero
La Vo, Contributing Write r
Frank Valenzuela has been a public
employee for a large part of his life.
Having been a publ ic employee for the
past 26 years. Valenzuela has been a
probation and police officer. served as
mayor of Hollister, and currently, is a
representative for the American Federation of State. County. and Municipal
Employees.
Challenging County Supervisor Harry
Huey, Valenzuela says that Huey does not
represent his own district. "He hasn't done
a thi_ng for 95 percent of the people in his
district," said Valenzuela. "The people on
the West side need representation ."
Commenting on several key issues .
~alen7Uela sat up in his chair a~ his
intense. dark eyes, barely visible through
the dim obscure light of his downtown
office. opened wide with attentiveness .
"I don't think the bilingual ballot was
any of the Board of Supervisors business,"
commented Valenzuela. "Why would they
want to hinder any participation at the
\oting booths?"
"I decided to run for Supervisor because I think I can stop some of the
negativeness perpetrated by the present boardnamely Jeff Reich." said Valenzuela. He
added that he could neutralize and help
eliminate much of the ignorance which
prompted the Board's decision to eliminate the bilingual ballot.
•
On the issue of the proposed downtown
hotel. Valenzuela said that there was
sufficient interest by property owners and
a large number of citizens toat least put it
on the ballot for the local June election.
Calling Huey a "perpetrator for Reagan
Republicanism." Valenzuela clearly
showed his dissention and skepticism
toward the current Reagan administration. "Reagan lives by double standards,"
criticized Valenzuela. "El Salvador stinks
because we're interfering where we
shouldn't. I'm totally against politics that
have money for killing people rather than
helping them ."
'He hasn't done a thing
for 95% of the people in
his district,' said Valenzuela. 'The people on
the Westside need representation.'
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Photo by Pete Valenzuela
Valenzuela believes that much can be
done at the local level to alleviate and
counteract what he feels are detrimental
administrative policies.
Students need more rental housing and
employment opportunities." said Yalenrnela. "I can't overemphasize how much
can be done at the local level to help many
of these and other problems."
Frank Valenzuela candidate for
Supervisor
Page }-La Voz de Aztlan-Mart·h 18, 1982
Letters to the editor
New Admission
Requirements
To the editor:
'
The California State University Board
of Trustees has approved new admission
requirements for the C~l!fornia State
University system. Requmng freshmen
entering the system in 1984 to have completed four years of college-prep~ratory
English and two years of math 1s long
overdue. Far too many college graduates
are leaving the system still unable to write
a simple letter, let alone a well-developed
essay or term paper. Their inability to deal
with math skills such as geometry and
algebra also leaves them ill-prepared for
the jobs that await them.
Some people are protesting the adoption of these new requirements. One of the
complaints is that the requirements will
keep minorities out of college. Because of
poor counseling, discrimination, economic disparity, and a number of other factors, minorities will not be able to prepare
themselves to meet those requirements.
There is no doubt that inequality exists
in our system of education. Discrimin~tion and prejudice have not been eradicated from our society let alone from our
schools. Poverty and other social problems also play a part in determining the
quality of education one receives.
To the editor:
The current trend of political decisions
on education has caused concern among
minority students. Policy changes and
drastic cuts in financial aid has caused
many students to reevaluate the likelihood of a pursuit for higher education.
Among these changes are: The new
entrance requirements to the CSUC system, the proposed state fee hikes, and the
proposed cuts in Federal Financial Aid.
The new entrance requirements would
require students to complete four years of
English and two years of mathematics, the
phasing in period of these requirements
would he in 1984. The requirements are
not the problem, the additional English
and math would benefit the student. The
problem .irises with the phasing in period
of the requirements. The current opinion
of many high school counselors is to overlook the minority student who is not the
above average student and whose thoughts
of going after a college education cannot
be followed because of economic and at
times cultural problems. Many minority
parents cannot afford to send their children to college, and whereas many migrant
parents have themselves never been familiar to education, but rather the main focus
is on getting enough food to feed their
families. the child suffers from not having
parental guidance. Therefore, the numbers that would be lost to the new
requirements can only be guessed at. One
has only to look upon the number of students who now attend State that got in
before them.
The proposed State fee hikes again are
an issue that affect not only minority students but rather all students. The minority
student again is singled out to ·be affected
the hardest. The cooperation of many
students has caused the Governor to
change the cuts from 5 to 2.5 percent. The
issue again being to the minority student
that college is not economically feasible.
The one change that will affect all students is the proposed cuts in Federal
Financial Aid. The people in the White
House are asking for two billion dollars
cut from federally funded programs. The
impact would be so severe that again colleges and universities would be populated
only by the wealthy. Minority students
face on the most serious challenges to
appear in many years.
The new programs and the proposed
changes that are before all students have
put to question, Is higher education a
right or a privilege?
David Duran
A.S. Senator
The solution to these problems. however, does not lie in loosening the entrance
requirements for college. Rather, attention should be given to dealing with these
problems at the elementary, junior high
and high school levels. Teachers, counselors or other school personnel who show
themselves to be unfit can and should be
removed. School policies and regulations
w:hich are discriminatory can be changed .
Efforts should also be made to get parents
more in'(olved with their children's education. Interested groups could provide
translators and / or advisers to accompany
parents to PT A meetings, teacher-parent
conferences, or any other school related
function. Providing tutors to those students who need them would also contri, bute to a more positive learning experience; the suggestions could go on and on.
Perhaps the most important way to
help prepare our students to meet the new
college requirements is to encourage initiative, to teach them to be self-starters.
Too many of our students are going
through school with the idea that they
don't have to work, that somewhere along
the line someone or some program will get
them through to the next step. Not only
do such students then fail to learn the
necessary academic skills_at the proper
time, they also fail to mature to the point
where there is such a thing as personal
responsibility.
Lydia Mendoza
To the editor:
I was pleased to see your story ab?ut
Lydia Mendoza. It shows that there _is a
real function for La Voz de Aztlan since
no other publication on campus has
shown even the slightest interest in the fact
that this legendary and internationally
renowned Chicana artist will be here for
the entire semester.
But your story is far from accurate. Ms.
Mendoza is here as a Resident Folk Artist
in a program which I initiated here in_ 1976
with the cooperation of the National
Endowment for the Arts and CSU F. She
is the fifth RF A, the others having been
specialists in Anglo-Celtic, Afro-American, Southern Appalachian, and Armenian folk traditions. It's important to
emphasize that this is a matching funds
program. which means that CSU F has
been willing to provide its share of funding for these important programs even
though there is a tight economic squeeze.
Even more important is that you neglected to mention that Ms. Mendoza not
only teaches her class on Thursday evenings but is available free of. ch~rge ~o
schools and non-profit organizations 10
the community and neighboring areas.
Again, this is a contributi-0n that C:SUF
makes to the understanding of Chicano
culture in our community and people need
to be aware of that commitment.
Gene Bluestein
Professor of English, CSU F
Director, Resident Folk Artist Program
If people now protesting the new college entrance requirements truly believed
in the capabilities and pbtential of minorities and women, they would not be so
quick to predict the "phasing out" of these
two groups from the college system. And
if they were sincerely interested in the
status of minorities and women in our
society they would be calling for even
stricter academic requirements for our
schools. Quality education can only mean
progress for our society as a whole; for
minorities and women quality education
can mean strength, self-confidence, and
pride- a firm belief that they are just as
capable as anybody else.
The new entrance requirements are not
completely satisfactory. They aren't specific enough as to what these additional
English and math classes will teach.
Nevertheless, they are a step forward in
helping to insure that entering students
can do college-level work . More important, perhaps these requirements will
serve as a challenge for us to go into the
elementary, junior high and high schools
to help our children reach their true
potential. Let us not deny them access to a
college education because the talents and
abilities they have were never discovered
and developed to their fullest.
Sincerely,
Mercedes E. Gonzalez.
Middle East"
and the
"The U.S.
A presentation on "The U.S. and the
Middle East: Comprehensive Peace or
Comprehensive Security?" will be given at
the California State University, Fresno,
on Friday, March 19, 1982, at noon, in the
College Ul!ion Lounge. The speaker is
. Political Science professor, Dr. Naseer H.
Aruri of Southeastern Massachusetts
University.
Dr. Aruri_ has studied and written
extensively on Palestine. the Middle East,
and U.S. relations in the Middle East. He
lectured on more than 70 college campuses on the Middle East since 1968. His
fields of concentration are in comparative
politics. political development, the Middle East and international relations. He
also participated as a vi.s iting professor for
the Poltical Science Department at Kuwait Universi'ty in Kuwait. In 1967. he
received his Ph.D. at the University of
Massachusetts.
Since 1969. Dr.Aruri wrote numerous
articles and books. Some of his publications include: Lebanon: A Challenge to
the Arab World; The Chapter on Syrian
Strategy; Jordan: A Study in Political
Development; 1921-1965; The Palestinian
Resistance to Israel's Occupation.
P .A.S.S. Program'
To the editor:
As many students already know. President Reagan's proposed budget cuts in
educational services will have devastating
effects on the nation's universities. as well
as the students. Among the targets of
massive reductions are programs such as
the P.A.S.S. Program here on cmapus.
Nationally. a total of $5.5 million is
expected to be cut from the Special Services for Disadvantaged Students fund. which
provides services for more than 157.000
students. Under the proposed cuts 16.200
students will be eliminated. In addition.
the Administration is attempting further
reduction and eliminations of various
student financial assistance programs.
What can 0.>u do to help stop these
proposals'?: Write to local legisl~tors.
newspapers. and television and radio stations regarding the effects of the proposed
cuts. Immediate action should be taken
since Congress will decide on the prop?sed projects in late March or early April.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Larry Banales
P.A.S.S.
Clerk
March 18. /982-la Voz de Aztlan-Page 3
Las Adelitas Still
Cracking the Whip
'
It has been said that the strength of a revolution can be judged by
the role women take in it. Millions of Mexican women fought in many
ways during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Countrywomen went
beside their men with children and cooking-gear on their backs. They
took up arms, sometimes disguised as men, and fought on the
battleground; many reached the rank of Colonel. These women,
named Las Adelitas, all saw their own liberation as an integral part of
the 'revolutionary struggle of their people.
ln the fall of 1969 a group of Chicana women joined together on
Fresno State University and formed an organization named after
their ancestors, Las Adelitas. According to Irma Marquez, a CSU F
alumni and organization founder, Las Adelitas was formed during a
"militant period." Because of the Movimiento period here in the U.S.,
Chicanas on campus could easily relate to Las Adelitas of the
Mexican Revolution. The women also adopted the song, La Adelita
as their theme song.
Like all women organizations, Las Adelitas had its criticism from
Chicanos who saw Las Adelitas as a separate identity from the
movimiento. "The men were apprehensive about the organization,"
said Marq_uez. "Because we did many things for the community such
as fun~ra1sers, th~y t~ought we were becoming like a sorority."
According to Aguirre, 1t took the men a while to recognize that the
women were still supporting them.
Las Ade/itas were the
"backpone" of the Fresno food services strike
in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia,
EOP counselor.
Adelitas organization meeting.
The organization began out of a need to educate themselves about
the movimiento. According to Marquez, "The men in M EChA were
not very responsive to our ideas and discussions during M EChA
meetings. We really didn't know enough about the movement; so we
decided to get together once a week to help each other learn more
about the movement."
About 8 to IO women would meet once a week and would hear
reports on different organizations and events involved in the
movement. The women were thus involved in a learning project. Pat
Aguirre, PASS director, said, "Las Adelitas was a training ground to
be able to do something in MEChA."
Chicanas also felt that M EChA was purely political and they had
other needs to be fulfilled. Most of the original members were
education majors, so they met to talk and develop their ideas. The
organization developed a tutoring program for elementary schools.
Some women would volunteer a couple of hours a night to tutor
youngsters. Las Adelitas were actively involved in community '
organization causes. The organization would "throw" big parties,
dances, or food sales to raise money and food for such organizations
as the UFW, MESA, etc. Las Adelitas' primary goals included
assisting Chicanos in the political, social and education aspects of the
community and campaigns. "Community organizations would always
come to us for support of some type," said Aguirre.
By 1971; Las Adelitas was a strong organization with about 30
members. Las Adelitas were the "backbone" of the Fresno food
service strike in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia, EO P
counselor. The Fresno College food services was buying non-union
lettuce and M EChA initiated a boycott against the food services.
While M EChA was handing out literature and educating the people
on the boycott, Las Adelitas were selling food right in front of the
cafeteria. Unfortunately when Las Adelitas began making the food,
the health department restricted them from selling the food. Persevering, Las Adelitas bought products from local restaurants and sold it.
Thus they were able to help make the food service boycott a success.
In 1972 an Adelita, Grace Solis, was chairperson of FSU's protest
against Governor Reagan's failure to include funds for EOP in the
1972-73 state college budget. The protestors camped out on the lawn
next to the Free Speech area.
"Adelitas had a strong reputation throughout the state because of
their involvement and activities," said Garcia.
Las Adelitas through its existence created a sisterhood among
Chicanas on campus. This was partly done by the annual initiation
night which was a time for talking and becoming familiar with one
another. Most of the Adelitas were from rural towns, first child to go
to college, and felt they had no choice but to ban together.
How has being in such an organization helped Chicanas? Pat
Aguirre said that Adelitas has helped in a three-fold manner. First. the
members became comadres. Secondly. the same women involved in
Adelitas went on to be the founders and members of other women
groups such as the League of Mexican American Women and
Mujeres for Political Action. Thirdly, being involved helped to find
each one's individual specialties. Garcia said. "Adelitas gave me a
chance to express myself."
Marquez said. "I learned about women and about myself as a
woman. I know I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the strong
relationships built with members.'' Marquez felt strongly that in
relationships with men, she learned how to deal with men. for prior to
college she knew nothing of "man supremacy." "Had the men accepted
us, I don't think I would have learned as much about life and
relationships," she said.
Las Adelitas hast hroughout the years been involved in the events of
its ~ii:ries. Presently the organization is going through with structural
rev~s1ons and pla~s to continue its involvement with the political.
social, and ~ducat1onal aspects of the campus and community.
_ La_s Adeli~as meets.every Wednesday at noon in the College Union.
for turther mformat10n contact Amelia Cota in La Raza Studies.
Page 4-La Voz de Aztlan-March 18, 1982
EL SALVADOR
_
LocaL groups .prote~t .Politician's positi9.Jl -
Seven)
met with
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Local community groups
eoqJ"eaman Tony Co-
elho and Chip Pashayan to urge ·
their opposition to Unite4 States
involvement in El Salvador.
The groups representatives
found Coelho CD-Merced) to be
somewhat in line with their posi-
tion.
But the meeting with Pashayan
resulted in a picket on George
Washington's birthday a week
later when some 70 persons protested the-Republican lawmaker's
support of US involvement in
El Salvador.
The delegation of representa- tives meeting with congressman
Pashayan included Arturo Vasquez and Phil Trainer of the Latin American Support Committee
(LASC); Connie Peterson and
Jacquelin Pilar of the Women's
International League for Peace
and Freedom (WILPF), Les
ber of United Black Men, Barbara Gaines of the Central Valley
Peace Network, and Sister Celestine Bowens a Dominican nun.
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According to Train~r congressman Pashayan was amazingly
uninformed.
"He didn't know about the
Wall Street Journal.article which
repudiated the validity of the
State Depai:tments white paper,
on El Salvador,'' said T:rainer.
"The white' paper alJeged·Cuban ·
and Nicaraguan involvement in
that conflict."
The delegation also learned
that corigressrnart · Pashayan's
only source of in formation is
limited to informar1on supplied
by the U.S. State Department.
Connie Peterson of WILPF
said ''the State Depar{ment had
evidently never told 'Ch1p' about
the opposition to U.S. interven- :
tion in· El Salvador by the con'7
ference of U.S. Catholic Bishops
or by the Bishop of El Salvador
and he certainly was not very well
informed about the widespread
abuses of human rights or about .
recent massacres by government
troops. "He didn't even know
that U.S. advisors in El Salvador
had been filmed the day before
·carrying Ml6 rifles," Ms. Peterson said.
The community members shocked to learn that the congressman
does not seem to be concerned
about the massive lack of human
rights for the Salvadorean people" said Arturo Vasquez one of
the representatives from LASC.
"He sees the conflict as being
between the Soviet Union and
the U.S. as opposed to arising
out of social and economic conditions."
The members of the delegation
said that congressman Pashayan
could
offer
no
proof
of Soviet, Cuban, or Nicaraguan
involvement in El Salvador but
insisted that our real adversary
there is "The Cuban Bear".
Describing their meeting with
congressman Pashayan to be totally unsatisfactory, the LatinAmerican Support Committee
and Women's International Leaguefor Peace and Freedom callt'for a ·demonstration in front of
his Shields .a nd Blackstone office.
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In addition to the over 70
demonstrators were several "dummies'' which organizers said symbolized the dead and mutilated
bodies found every morning on
the streets of San Salvador.
The picketers chanted "no
·draft, no war, U.S. out of El
Salvador", "Chip, Chip, open
your eyes we don't want genocide", and "shame, shame, Pashayan' s to blame." .
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Other protestors carried signs
saying "no Vietnam in El Salvador", or protesting Pashayans
support of further U.S. intervention in El Salvador.
Representatives of the Latin
American Support Committee
Mike Rhodes and Arturo Vasquez and Connis Peterson &
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Marcia McLane of WILPF also
met ·with congressman Tony Coelho on Feb. 12.
Congressman Coelho pointed
out to the group that he is a cosponsor of House Resolution 1509
which would cut off all U.S.
aid to El Salvador, and of House
Joint Resolution 399 which would
According to Vasquez, congressmen Coelho stated that he
has consistently opposed U.S.
intervention in El Salvador, just
as he long opposed the Viet Nam
war when he was congressional
aide to B.F. Sisk.
nuhty Pr~ident Keagan's certification that the Junta has significantly_reduced human rights violations. HJR 399 currently has 87
sponsors.
Arturo Vasquez added "It is ,
important for us to contact our
representatives in Washington
and let them know that we are
opposed to the U.S. aid to the El
Salvador government which has
murdered thousands of its own
citizens, but it is also important
that we show our opposition
through demonstrations and
protests.''
The Committee in solidarity
with the people of El · Salvador
has called for a mass demonstration to be held on March 27. A
blockade of the Naval Supply
Depot in Oakland is scheduled
for this date.
Reprinted from El Tiempo
Ir
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March 18, /982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 5
Feedback
By Lourdes Villarreal and Pedro Perez
What suggestions would you make to improve tbe
overall quality of the food services on Campus?
John Bull Aborralor: Agriculture/ Graduate Student
"The food itself could be improved, as
f~r as taste and size is concerned. Probably make it a little bit more expensive.
but make the food taste better.
Also. in the evenings, before 7:00, there
is a smaller selecti on at that time because
they feel there are less people on campus.
We have no choice but to buy fries and
hamburgers! They should have Chinese
food and more Mexican food."
Nancy Montes: Criminology /Sophomore
"They should have better health foods.
More vegetables! Different types of cultural foods. The Mexican food here is
lousy! Having Chinese food would be
nice."
Susana Reyes: Business Administration/
Junior
"Better fries! Sometimes they're pretty
soggy! Everything else is pretty good.
They should have less hamburger goods.
Otherwise. 1 like what they have."
:,.
Julio Cesar Gramajo: Pschology/Graduate Student
"First of all. the school population and
the staff and faculty is quite large. We're
talking about. maybe. twentv to twentvtwo thousand people. So. therefore. the
cafeteria doesn't offer a good enough
sen·ice as far as choices is concerned. The
menu is \·ery very limited ."
Eduardo Mora: Industrial Technolo~)'/
Graduatin~ Senior
,.., hey\ e imprO\ cd the ordering proc::ss. But they're quite limited as to the
sdection the students hme. i\ little more
\ ariety \\ ould help. like h,n ing Chinese
rood."
Page 6
La Vo: de .Aztlan
March 18. 1982
M.E.Ch.A •• Building Leaders
By Sylvia Castro
la
\'01
S1aff Wri1er
M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan ) is more than just a
four-letter word. It is a movement which
has taken the form of an organization to
represent and educate Chicano studen_ts
on campus of current issues on campus, in
the community. national. and international relating to the Chicano cause.
Current M EChA president, Jerry Gonzalez. sees the movement as the major and
continuing objective of the organization
today . Noting back to the origin of the
organirntion in 1969, at a time when the
U.S. wa at war with North Vietnam.
college ·tudents, faculty and staff members bound together in protest over the
gross imbalance of the few minorities in
colleges compared to the numbers on the
front lines in battle. From those protests
derived many of the programs which we
now have today to promote opportunities
for Chicanos wishing to pursue higher
education. Some of those programs which
still exist are the La Raza Studies courses
and the Educati°'nal Opportunity Program (EOP). Gonzalez feels it is MEChA 's
task to "inform and lead them (students)
in the right direction and support others
that believe in their cause."
This task has not always been an easy
one to perform. As the years progressed
and the "fire'' of the late 60's and early 70's
died, on went the pioneers of the Chicano
Movement to pursue careers in the community still promoting the cause. How- .
ever. when the new blood was left to carry
on, they found the boots left behind by
their predecessors too big to fill. Many
had never experienced the struggle which
made it difficult to maintain a large and
active membership. Some had no idea
that their opportunity to attend college
via financial and special admissions programs, were made possible by great sacrifices by the early Mechistas. Sacrifices
which often meant delay in obtaining their
degree or total withdrawal from college to
give the Movement their undivided attention. It's not easy to study when the future
of your brothers', sisters'. and children's
education depends heavily on your efforts.
The leadership and organization itself
suffered many lulls due to the growing
apathy among Chicano students. With
· Reagan in office and the major cutbacks
his administration has proposed, the students of MEChA are becoming aware of
what their early leaders had t_o fight for.
Photo by Pete ·Valenzuela
Last year's president, Lily Martinez,
using her innate powers of speech and
persuasion, lit the "fire" once again, bringing Chicano students on campus together
and making M EChA an acJive working
machine. Membership increased enormously. A feeling of brotherhood among
Chicanos grew and soon all issues whether
on or off campus became of great concern
which often led to action by M EChA. It
also led to much criticism by Chicano
students still deluded in believing they had
done it on their own.
But an organization cannot depend on
one person alone to continue the work
that so many once did. This year M EChA
has a board of directors in which the work
is mutually distributed and shared. However, the bulk of the responsibility still
remains. as always, on the president. This
Perez appointed to
advisory board
Manuel Perez, assistant dean of student
affairs here at FS U, was appointed to the
State Social Services Advisory Board.
The Appointment was made by Gov.
Brown. The board deals with recommending State policies and studies to elected
officials.
Perez said he has always had a long and
continuous interest in policy making, and
through this interest was asked if he'd like
to serve on the board. The appointment is
not final until the state senate has approved it. Perez will be filling the vacancy
left by Sylvia Spencer.
Perez has not been fully briefed on how
the board is conducted, but he said they
meet once a month for two days in
different locations throughout the state.
Perez said he looks forward to developing state policies since they'll have a direct
effect on the people. Perez was a Fresno
Co_unty Probation Officer and a former
director of the E.O.P. Program here on
campus.
year's officers, whom are elected by the
general membership, are: president. Jerry
Gonzalez, vice-president, Rosemary Rodriguez, secretary, Sylvia Castro, Treasurer, Paul Espinosa. and two sergeant-ofarms, John Palafox and John Reyes.
Normally MEChA does not begin a session until the new academic year in the
fall, but once elected to office the board
found it necessary to stay active during the
summer and winter recesses concentrating
on community issues.
Some of M EChA 's past accomplishments and activities include: breakfast for
the U FW Convention in Fresno in September, as monitors in the March For
Jobs and Peace in September, Southwest
Voter Registration Project, supporting
the Bilingual Ballot and boycotting Gottschalk's. presenting the Coor's Boycott
resolution to the Associated Students,
support for the healthworkers strike in
Parlier last year. with other accomplishments.
This year one of MEChA's major projects is obtaining a Chicano Cultural
Center for the organization so that they
may have a work area for themselves.
Gonzalez explained that many times they
have to borrow equipment and space from
La Raza Studies along with other oncampusoffices which interfers with both M EChA's
work as well as the offices they borrow
from. Other current projects are: educating students on the situation in El Salvador, fighting the Reagan cutbacks and fee
increases, and of course. their annual
programs: the Chicano Youth Conference
in January and Semana de la Raza in
May.
Ad Hoc Food
Services Review
After two open hearings in the College
Union where comments were accepted
relative to campus food service operations. the Ad Hoc Food Services Committee had its third closed meeting to review
the information received and plot a course
to correct deficiencies and strengthen the
food service program. Under consideration is a restructuring of the now Food
Services Advisory Committee into a College Union type board empowered to set
policies while working directly with the
campus food services administrator.
Another item under review is a possible
recommendation to the California State
University. Fresno Association. Inc. Board
of Directors for a consultant to be
retained to sur\'ey campus attitudes relative to food costs. quality. and physical
facilities. In addition. the Ad Hoc Committee recommended an automated piece
of equipment known as the Tellu~ ~e
acquired. The equipment when installed 1s
capable of sun·eying customer attitudes at
rnrious locati(1ns throughout the campus.
The Committee expects to complete its
charge and forward recommendations to
the Board by late April of this year.
March 18. 1982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 7
Billngual Education
Serv·i ce Center
By Maria A. Peralez
La Voz Contributing Writer
Becoming a Bilingual, Bicultural teacher is a long and experiencing career for the
person seeking the credential. After completing four years of under graduate studies, the learning process continues. To
teach Spanish-speaking children English
effectively the educator has to evaluate the
materials and methods being used.
"Different varieties of the language
have their functions and they are equally
important. Home language, whether informal or regional has the important function of strengthening family ties through
communication , and the educator should
respect that form of expression," stated
Dr. Eutimio Topete, director of Bilingual
Education Service Center (BESC). He
went on to say that , standard variety is
important because it facilitates upward
mobility and encourages the speaker to
view its regional variety language as part
of a world language.
Aiding the ch,ild ren in making the Spanish to English transition is a difficult task
that teachers and their aides must be able
to implement in order for that child to
advance according. To help the educator
in accomplishing this , the services BESC
provides a variety of workshops set up by
Dr. Topete where he introduces various
materials and methods to make the transition easier.
The professional staff available through
BESC can prepare educators to provide
quality education for the non-English and
limited English proficient students.
In 1977 Dr. Topete published a series of
bilingual stories, N uestros Cuento ( Our
Stories), that the student can read on his
own or the instructor can read to them in a
group. He said "through these stories an
imaginative teacher can stimulate and
generate langu~ge _from the children."
Using different techniques as the Levenson's Language Experience Approach.
This method enables children to experience language in an enjoyable manner,
by actively participating they get motivated into learning how to read and write.
This is Dr. Topete 's second semester at
CSU F, although his roots are here in California he has taught at other universities.
Aiding the children in
making the Spanish to
English transition is a
difficult task.
He attended the University of Colorado in
Boulder, where he earned his Ph.D. in
education with emphasis in bilingual-multicultural Education and Curricular Social Foundations. Before that he attended
San .Francisco State University where he
rec;eived his masters of art and B. A. degree
in literature and Linguistics.
Dr. Eutemio Topete Director of Bilingual Service Center.
Dr. Topete's native language is Spanish
but is also fluent in English, French, and
Italian. his reason for learning these other
languages was out of necessity and exposure. He was a guide of summer institutions and had the opportunity to tour
South America and Europe.
The most recent of his publications are
"Possible Consequences of Heterogeneous Grouping," and "Recordar es Vivir"
that deals with research in bilingual
history.
Los ·Otividados and Macario, both
award winning films were brought on
campus by Dr. Topete, to expose, and
enhance people. The film Los Olividados
was on how poverty affects children and
Macario dealt with an allegorical tale of
dance. The last of the films being brought
to campus is ... Reeds l nsurgents Mexico" a
true characterization of John Reed's life
during the Mexican Revolution with Pancho Villa, a modern film with clips of old
documentaries. It will show April 21 in the
Old Science building room 16 l at 6:00
p.m., everyone is welcomed, admission is
free.
Bilingual education has everybody talking
By Susan M. Knight
Reprinted from The Arizona Daily Star
"I'm President Reagan, and I am cutting bilingual education because it's too
expensive and it doesn't work. Convince
me I am wrong."
With those words, teacher Ramon
Martinez goaded his sixth-graders at
Davis Bilingual Learning Center last
week.
r
Hands waved furiously for recognition.
David Ruiz, 11, was called to answer.
He stood and said, "Mr. President, you
should take the time to come to our school
and see how good the program has been
for us."
The mock president responded, "But
what about all the kids who are forced to
be bused across town, who have to come
to the barrio to go to school with the
Mexicans?"
Student William Hall, who gets up
early every day to catch a bus to take him
not to his neighborhood school but on a
SO-minute ride to Davis, handled the president with diplomacy. He sto~d and
sighed heavily.
"Mr. Reagan, we come here because we
want to. I think bilingual education and
mixing the cultures is working. It was
hard at first. But the kids from the
extended community are learning Mexicans' qualities, and they are learning some
qualities from the extended community.
We are learning to communicate with
other people," he said.
Where were the cameras? The exchange
between Martinez and his class seemed
more like a well-rehearsed act performed
to promote the idea of magnet schools and
bilingual education than part of a socialstudies lesson on government and economics.
If the enthusiasm of the 27 students in
the class could- be packaged and distributed throughout the city, Stan Paz's job as
director of bilingual education for the
Tucson Unified School District might be a
little easier.
Community support for the district's
bilingual programs has grown substantially since they were started with federal
funds in the early 1970s, ,but board
members and administrators still are
struggling to gain more public support for
the programs.
Bilingual education recently has encountered heavy criticism on a national
level. When the Reagan administration
announced plans to eliminate regulations
that require school districts to use bilingual education as the primary method for
teaching students whose language was not
English, it was stated that the programs
do not work and that children should
learn only English because it is the country's language.
The bilingual method teaches children
in both languages concurrently as proficiency in English and Spanish is acquired.
Proponents say it provides the students
with a strong foundation for learning
skills by using a language they already
know. It also lets Spanish-speaking students gain academic skills at a rate equal
to their English-speaking classmates, giving them a sense of success and positive
self-concept, supporters say.
But opponents believe it unfairly delays
the students' learning of English, the language they are expected to know to function in U.S. society. Critics also say bilingual education supports a pluralistic and
separatist society.
Parents, however.disagreed about which
method should be used to help the Hispanic children overcome the language
barrier. Since then, the district has implemented different methods ranging
from total immersion in English with an
emphasis on phonics to completely bilngual programs. Paz said district parents'
interest in the bilingual programs is now
stronger than in other methods.
After the Reagan administration's comments, district officials committed to bilingual education began digging their heels
in a little deeper, developing more programs and techniques to measure the programs' results. Paz is also working on a
"marketing plan."
The district's emphatic ommitment
came last summer when the Board of
Education voted to make bilingual education a separate, district-supported academic department with Paz as its director.
Federal Title VI I funds no longer were
being received for the Spanish-English
programs, and it was planned that the
Yaqui-English programs. now supported
by federal funds, would eventually be
district-funded.
Subsequently, the bord made bilingual
education one of its eminent priorities for
1981-82-"to develop, coordinate and
integrate bilingual-education programs."
But like the rest of the nation. bilingual
education in Tuc!.on is not popular with
everyone.
Many Hispanic parents request that
their children not be placed in bilingual
classes. but be immersed in English. Services should be provided. they say. to aid
the student in making the Spanish-toEnglish transition. not to maintain the
Spanish language.
Paz said bilingual education needs a
full-time public-relations manager to dispel some of the program's myths and
misconceptions.
"That's how I see myself. My major goal
is public relations." Paz said.
Even many school administrators hold
misconceptions, Paz said.
Paz said he plays golf regularly with a
group of Pima County school administrators. Often one will say, "'Stan. what do
you do? Oh. bilingual education. You
didn't ask me, but l think all children
should learn to speak English.'" Paz said.
His r~sponse is, "You didn •task me, but
so do I."'
He believes bilingual education will
gain popularity as the world. becomes
more of a global village. "We will need to
be able to speak other languages to
communicate."
"Spanish is a right-brain-hemisphere
language. emphasi1ing feelings. English is
a left-brain-hemisphere. emphasizing cognitive skills, l>e\'eloping both enriches a
person's intellectual abilities." he said.
The district's department will emphasi1.e teaching all students a second language. Pai said.
The United States as a whole is far
behind the rest of the world. he said. Pa7
recalled a round table discussion on bilingual education se\'en years ago attended
bv educators from around the world.
· "After the discussion about what each
country was doing. ~me man from Afghanistan said. "'It appears to . me the
United States is the queer bird in bilingual
education."'
Page 8-La Voz de _Aztlan-March 18, /982
Chihuahua Road Run
Otto De La Rocha:
Nicaraguan Musician Guitarist
Speakers Update On Nicaragua
and Central America
Sal Mosqueda Community Center
4670 E. Butler
Sunday, March 21, 1982 .7:00 p.m.
$2.50 at the Door
Stop the U.S.
War in
El Salvador,
March on
Oakland Naval
Supply Center
March 27
carpool Info. call
237-2763
Scholarships
Applications for the Third Annual
Chihuahua Road Run· Scholarships are
now available for currently enrolled CSU F
students. The scholarships are in recognition of two deceased employees of the firm
who dedicated their time and knowledge
to the growth of Chihuahua Inc.; Manuel
Gonzales, 31, and Rafael Maciel Jr.. 19.
Each scholarship awarded will be for
$300. Funds are raised for the scholarship~ at the annual Chihuahua Road Run
which is held in June of each year in the
West side of Fresno.
To be eligible for the scholarships all
applicants must meet the following qualifications:
- have completed 60 units before the
Spring 1982 semester;
- be a full-time student- 12 units or
more;
- have a declared major;
- have a minimum 2.5 GPA within their
Major;
- past and present activities will be
considered- submit in narrative form.
The deadline for applying is 5 p.m.,
March 26, 1982. Applications may be
picked up at Tutorial Services, SR3-l 16,
294-3052, and La Raza Studies, SR4-l 16,
294-2848.
Applications for editorships of
Daily Collegian
Hye Sharzhoom
La Voz de Aztlan
·uhuru Na Umoja
.
.
are now available at the A. S. Office in CU 316.
Applications must be returned to the A.S. _
Office
no later than
4:00 p.m. April 23, 1982~
COmadres -y- Compadres
MAPA/MPA
for Education
Endorsement Convention
Dance March 19, 1982
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight
Old Cafeteria
Music by A.T.M. Disco
•
Editor: Pedro Perez
Managing Editor: Lourdes Villarreal
Production Manager: Sandra Castro
Reporters: Julia Benitez, Margarita Martinez, David Duran, Bobby Rodriguez
Production: Larry Banales
Photographer: Pete Valenzuela
La Voz de Aztlan is California State
University Fresno's Chicano Newspaper.
La Voz de Atzlan is located in the Keat:
Campus Building.
Editorials: (209) 294-2486. Letters t<
the editor are welcomed. The newspaper
reserves the right to edit letters.
I
On Saturday March 27, 1982, from 10
a.m. _to 4 p.m. the Fresno chapter of the
Mexican American Political Association
( MAPA) and Mujeres for Political Action
( M PA) will co-sponsor a candidate's
endorsement convention at the Sierra
Vista United Methodist Church meeting
room. located at 4609 E. Illinois Avenue.
According to endorsement committee
co-chairperson Pat Aguirre. the forum is
being used to allow candidates. for the
J un_e 1982 primary elections. an opportun~ty to present their platforms and views
on important issues concerning the Chicano community. Each candidate is scheduled to speak a total of 10 minutes of
which 5 minutes will be directed towards
4uestions from the audience.
"In addition." noted Aguirre. "the
forum will give interested communit\'
members a chance to preYiew the candidate's qualifications and reasons for seeking office. as well as an overview of their
campaign platforms. All interested are
encouraged to at.t end."
.-DE
La Voz Staff Writer
__
--
AZTLAN
Thursday, Marc_h 18, 1982
California State University, Fresno
By Bobby Rodriguez
.,,,,
CCVMC Oppo.se
Sale of VMC
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors
recently elected to spend an additional
$40,000 to $50,000 to look into whether
Va·lley Medical Cente r should be converted into a private non-profit
organization.
The meeting was preceeded by a rally
held at VMC, where about 50 people
gathered to voice their opposition to the
proposed sale of VMC. The Community
Coalition on Valley Medical Center spear
headed the rally and is the driving force
behind the opposition. Spokesman for
CCVMC, Bill Plumb said "They opposed
the sale and conversi on of VMC to a
private, non-profi t organization." He
added that the poor of the community
would not receive adequate care under the
proposed plan.
At the public heari ng other members of
the CCVM C r eiterated Plumb's
sentiments. Others speaking in opposition
included members of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom,
United Black Men of Fresno, Parlier City
Council members , the Fresno-Madera
Medical Society, and Councilman Leonel
Alvarado.
Councilman Alvarado requested that
the Board look carefully at the possible
ramifications involved in the selling of
VMC, which include the medical education the hospital now provides, the 1300
employees whose future at VMC is unsure, the Industrial Development Bonds,
and the Medical needs of Fresno County's
farmworker population.
The Board of Supervisors. however,
elected to go ahead with the County
Administrative Office's recommendation
that it prepare a detailed plan for the
conversion.
What that will mean according to
CCV MC is that the poor residents of the
community will be prevented from receiving medical care. And the cost affects all
residents, not only those individuals denied access to treatment. The County's
policy CCVMC maintains will also limit
pregnant women access to prenatal care.
That means that women with high-risk
conditions will not be able to receive the
monitoring and care that is proven to
prevent disabilities, debilitating diseases,
and infant mortality.
Valley Medical Center is the sole public
county hospital remaining in the Central
San Joaquin Valley, and it is also the
primary institution in the Central Valley
serving the indigent and Medi-Cal population. In addition, it . is a regional
institution in that it is a medical training
facility. Whether VMC remains true to its
state is still to be seen. The administrative
office's findings will be presented to the
Board at another public hearing on July
20 at 2 p.m.
VM C is the sole county
hospital in SJV
Valenzuela: Candidate for Supervisor
By Fernando Quintero
La Vo, Contributing Write r
Frank Valenzuela has been a public
employee for a large part of his life.
Having been a publ ic employee for the
past 26 years. Valenzuela has been a
probation and police officer. served as
mayor of Hollister, and currently, is a
representative for the American Federation of State. County. and Municipal
Employees.
Challenging County Supervisor Harry
Huey, Valenzuela says that Huey does not
represent his own district. "He hasn't done
a thi_ng for 95 percent of the people in his
district," said Valenzuela. "The people on
the West side need representation ."
Commenting on several key issues .
~alen7Uela sat up in his chair a~ his
intense. dark eyes, barely visible through
the dim obscure light of his downtown
office. opened wide with attentiveness .
"I don't think the bilingual ballot was
any of the Board of Supervisors business,"
commented Valenzuela. "Why would they
want to hinder any participation at the
\oting booths?"
"I decided to run for Supervisor because I think I can stop some of the
negativeness perpetrated by the present boardnamely Jeff Reich." said Valenzuela. He
added that he could neutralize and help
eliminate much of the ignorance which
prompted the Board's decision to eliminate the bilingual ballot.
•
On the issue of the proposed downtown
hotel. Valenzuela said that there was
sufficient interest by property owners and
a large number of citizens toat least put it
on the ballot for the local June election.
Calling Huey a "perpetrator for Reagan
Republicanism." Valenzuela clearly
showed his dissention and skepticism
toward the current Reagan administration. "Reagan lives by double standards,"
criticized Valenzuela. "El Salvador stinks
because we're interfering where we
shouldn't. I'm totally against politics that
have money for killing people rather than
helping them ."
'He hasn't done a thing
for 95% of the people in
his district,' said Valenzuela. 'The people on
the Westside need representation.'
:.:::•·····;·.
•
•:•·
:,:/:=::>-·
•. __•
Photo by Pete Valenzuela
Valenzuela believes that much can be
done at the local level to alleviate and
counteract what he feels are detrimental
administrative policies.
Students need more rental housing and
employment opportunities." said Yalenrnela. "I can't overemphasize how much
can be done at the local level to help many
of these and other problems."
Frank Valenzuela candidate for
Supervisor
Page }-La Voz de Aztlan-Mart·h 18, 1982
Letters to the editor
New Admission
Requirements
To the editor:
'
The California State University Board
of Trustees has approved new admission
requirements for the C~l!fornia State
University system. Requmng freshmen
entering the system in 1984 to have completed four years of college-prep~ratory
English and two years of math 1s long
overdue. Far too many college graduates
are leaving the system still unable to write
a simple letter, let alone a well-developed
essay or term paper. Their inability to deal
with math skills such as geometry and
algebra also leaves them ill-prepared for
the jobs that await them.
Some people are protesting the adoption of these new requirements. One of the
complaints is that the requirements will
keep minorities out of college. Because of
poor counseling, discrimination, economic disparity, and a number of other factors, minorities will not be able to prepare
themselves to meet those requirements.
There is no doubt that inequality exists
in our system of education. Discrimin~tion and prejudice have not been eradicated from our society let alone from our
schools. Poverty and other social problems also play a part in determining the
quality of education one receives.
To the editor:
The current trend of political decisions
on education has caused concern among
minority students. Policy changes and
drastic cuts in financial aid has caused
many students to reevaluate the likelihood of a pursuit for higher education.
Among these changes are: The new
entrance requirements to the CSUC system, the proposed state fee hikes, and the
proposed cuts in Federal Financial Aid.
The new entrance requirements would
require students to complete four years of
English and two years of mathematics, the
phasing in period of these requirements
would he in 1984. The requirements are
not the problem, the additional English
and math would benefit the student. The
problem .irises with the phasing in period
of the requirements. The current opinion
of many high school counselors is to overlook the minority student who is not the
above average student and whose thoughts
of going after a college education cannot
be followed because of economic and at
times cultural problems. Many minority
parents cannot afford to send their children to college, and whereas many migrant
parents have themselves never been familiar to education, but rather the main focus
is on getting enough food to feed their
families. the child suffers from not having
parental guidance. Therefore, the numbers that would be lost to the new
requirements can only be guessed at. One
has only to look upon the number of students who now attend State that got in
before them.
The proposed State fee hikes again are
an issue that affect not only minority students but rather all students. The minority
student again is singled out to ·be affected
the hardest. The cooperation of many
students has caused the Governor to
change the cuts from 5 to 2.5 percent. The
issue again being to the minority student
that college is not economically feasible.
The one change that will affect all students is the proposed cuts in Federal
Financial Aid. The people in the White
House are asking for two billion dollars
cut from federally funded programs. The
impact would be so severe that again colleges and universities would be populated
only by the wealthy. Minority students
face on the most serious challenges to
appear in many years.
The new programs and the proposed
changes that are before all students have
put to question, Is higher education a
right or a privilege?
David Duran
A.S. Senator
The solution to these problems. however, does not lie in loosening the entrance
requirements for college. Rather, attention should be given to dealing with these
problems at the elementary, junior high
and high school levels. Teachers, counselors or other school personnel who show
themselves to be unfit can and should be
removed. School policies and regulations
w:hich are discriminatory can be changed .
Efforts should also be made to get parents
more in'(olved with their children's education. Interested groups could provide
translators and / or advisers to accompany
parents to PT A meetings, teacher-parent
conferences, or any other school related
function. Providing tutors to those students who need them would also contri, bute to a more positive learning experience; the suggestions could go on and on.
Perhaps the most important way to
help prepare our students to meet the new
college requirements is to encourage initiative, to teach them to be self-starters.
Too many of our students are going
through school with the idea that they
don't have to work, that somewhere along
the line someone or some program will get
them through to the next step. Not only
do such students then fail to learn the
necessary academic skills_at the proper
time, they also fail to mature to the point
where there is such a thing as personal
responsibility.
Lydia Mendoza
To the editor:
I was pleased to see your story ab?ut
Lydia Mendoza. It shows that there _is a
real function for La Voz de Aztlan since
no other publication on campus has
shown even the slightest interest in the fact
that this legendary and internationally
renowned Chicana artist will be here for
the entire semester.
But your story is far from accurate. Ms.
Mendoza is here as a Resident Folk Artist
in a program which I initiated here in_ 1976
with the cooperation of the National
Endowment for the Arts and CSU F. She
is the fifth RF A, the others having been
specialists in Anglo-Celtic, Afro-American, Southern Appalachian, and Armenian folk traditions. It's important to
emphasize that this is a matching funds
program. which means that CSU F has
been willing to provide its share of funding for these important programs even
though there is a tight economic squeeze.
Even more important is that you neglected to mention that Ms. Mendoza not
only teaches her class on Thursday evenings but is available free of. ch~rge ~o
schools and non-profit organizations 10
the community and neighboring areas.
Again, this is a contributi-0n that C:SUF
makes to the understanding of Chicano
culture in our community and people need
to be aware of that commitment.
Gene Bluestein
Professor of English, CSU F
Director, Resident Folk Artist Program
If people now protesting the new college entrance requirements truly believed
in the capabilities and pbtential of minorities and women, they would not be so
quick to predict the "phasing out" of these
two groups from the college system. And
if they were sincerely interested in the
status of minorities and women in our
society they would be calling for even
stricter academic requirements for our
schools. Quality education can only mean
progress for our society as a whole; for
minorities and women quality education
can mean strength, self-confidence, and
pride- a firm belief that they are just as
capable as anybody else.
The new entrance requirements are not
completely satisfactory. They aren't specific enough as to what these additional
English and math classes will teach.
Nevertheless, they are a step forward in
helping to insure that entering students
can do college-level work . More important, perhaps these requirements will
serve as a challenge for us to go into the
elementary, junior high and high schools
to help our children reach their true
potential. Let us not deny them access to a
college education because the talents and
abilities they have were never discovered
and developed to their fullest.
Sincerely,
Mercedes E. Gonzalez.
Middle East"
and the
"The U.S.
A presentation on "The U.S. and the
Middle East: Comprehensive Peace or
Comprehensive Security?" will be given at
the California State University, Fresno,
on Friday, March 19, 1982, at noon, in the
College Ul!ion Lounge. The speaker is
. Political Science professor, Dr. Naseer H.
Aruri of Southeastern Massachusetts
University.
Dr. Aruri_ has studied and written
extensively on Palestine. the Middle East,
and U.S. relations in the Middle East. He
lectured on more than 70 college campuses on the Middle East since 1968. His
fields of concentration are in comparative
politics. political development, the Middle East and international relations. He
also participated as a vi.s iting professor for
the Poltical Science Department at Kuwait Universi'ty in Kuwait. In 1967. he
received his Ph.D. at the University of
Massachusetts.
Since 1969. Dr.Aruri wrote numerous
articles and books. Some of his publications include: Lebanon: A Challenge to
the Arab World; The Chapter on Syrian
Strategy; Jordan: A Study in Political
Development; 1921-1965; The Palestinian
Resistance to Israel's Occupation.
P .A.S.S. Program'
To the editor:
As many students already know. President Reagan's proposed budget cuts in
educational services will have devastating
effects on the nation's universities. as well
as the students. Among the targets of
massive reductions are programs such as
the P.A.S.S. Program here on cmapus.
Nationally. a total of $5.5 million is
expected to be cut from the Special Services for Disadvantaged Students fund. which
provides services for more than 157.000
students. Under the proposed cuts 16.200
students will be eliminated. In addition.
the Administration is attempting further
reduction and eliminations of various
student financial assistance programs.
What can 0.>u do to help stop these
proposals'?: Write to local legisl~tors.
newspapers. and television and radio stations regarding the effects of the proposed
cuts. Immediate action should be taken
since Congress will decide on the prop?sed projects in late March or early April.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Larry Banales
P.A.S.S.
Clerk
March 18. /982-la Voz de Aztlan-Page 3
Las Adelitas Still
Cracking the Whip
'
It has been said that the strength of a revolution can be judged by
the role women take in it. Millions of Mexican women fought in many
ways during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Countrywomen went
beside their men with children and cooking-gear on their backs. They
took up arms, sometimes disguised as men, and fought on the
battleground; many reached the rank of Colonel. These women,
named Las Adelitas, all saw their own liberation as an integral part of
the 'revolutionary struggle of their people.
ln the fall of 1969 a group of Chicana women joined together on
Fresno State University and formed an organization named after
their ancestors, Las Adelitas. According to Irma Marquez, a CSU F
alumni and organization founder, Las Adelitas was formed during a
"militant period." Because of the Movimiento period here in the U.S.,
Chicanas on campus could easily relate to Las Adelitas of the
Mexican Revolution. The women also adopted the song, La Adelita
as their theme song.
Like all women organizations, Las Adelitas had its criticism from
Chicanos who saw Las Adelitas as a separate identity from the
movimiento. "The men were apprehensive about the organization,"
said Marq_uez. "Because we did many things for the community such
as fun~ra1sers, th~y t~ought we were becoming like a sorority."
According to Aguirre, 1t took the men a while to recognize that the
women were still supporting them.
Las Ade/itas were the
"backpone" of the Fresno food services strike
in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia,
EOP counselor.
Adelitas organization meeting.
The organization began out of a need to educate themselves about
the movimiento. According to Marquez, "The men in M EChA were
not very responsive to our ideas and discussions during M EChA
meetings. We really didn't know enough about the movement; so we
decided to get together once a week to help each other learn more
about the movement."
About 8 to IO women would meet once a week and would hear
reports on different organizations and events involved in the
movement. The women were thus involved in a learning project. Pat
Aguirre, PASS director, said, "Las Adelitas was a training ground to
be able to do something in MEChA."
Chicanas also felt that M EChA was purely political and they had
other needs to be fulfilled. Most of the original members were
education majors, so they met to talk and develop their ideas. The
organization developed a tutoring program for elementary schools.
Some women would volunteer a couple of hours a night to tutor
youngsters. Las Adelitas were actively involved in community '
organization causes. The organization would "throw" big parties,
dances, or food sales to raise money and food for such organizations
as the UFW, MESA, etc. Las Adelitas' primary goals included
assisting Chicanos in the political, social and education aspects of the
community and campaigns. "Community organizations would always
come to us for support of some type," said Aguirre.
By 1971; Las Adelitas was a strong organization with about 30
members. Las Adelitas were the "backbone" of the Fresno food
service strike in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia, EO P
counselor. The Fresno College food services was buying non-union
lettuce and M EChA initiated a boycott against the food services.
While M EChA was handing out literature and educating the people
on the boycott, Las Adelitas were selling food right in front of the
cafeteria. Unfortunately when Las Adelitas began making the food,
the health department restricted them from selling the food. Persevering, Las Adelitas bought products from local restaurants and sold it.
Thus they were able to help make the food service boycott a success.
In 1972 an Adelita, Grace Solis, was chairperson of FSU's protest
against Governor Reagan's failure to include funds for EOP in the
1972-73 state college budget. The protestors camped out on the lawn
next to the Free Speech area.
"Adelitas had a strong reputation throughout the state because of
their involvement and activities," said Garcia.
Las Adelitas through its existence created a sisterhood among
Chicanas on campus. This was partly done by the annual initiation
night which was a time for talking and becoming familiar with one
another. Most of the Adelitas were from rural towns, first child to go
to college, and felt they had no choice but to ban together.
How has being in such an organization helped Chicanas? Pat
Aguirre said that Adelitas has helped in a three-fold manner. First. the
members became comadres. Secondly. the same women involved in
Adelitas went on to be the founders and members of other women
groups such as the League of Mexican American Women and
Mujeres for Political Action. Thirdly, being involved helped to find
each one's individual specialties. Garcia said. "Adelitas gave me a
chance to express myself."
Marquez said. "I learned about women and about myself as a
woman. I know I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the strong
relationships built with members.'' Marquez felt strongly that in
relationships with men, she learned how to deal with men. for prior to
college she knew nothing of "man supremacy." "Had the men accepted
us, I don't think I would have learned as much about life and
relationships," she said.
Las Adelitas hast hroughout the years been involved in the events of
its ~ii:ries. Presently the organization is going through with structural
rev~s1ons and pla~s to continue its involvement with the political.
social, and ~ducat1onal aspects of the campus and community.
_ La_s Adeli~as meets.every Wednesday at noon in the College Union.
for turther mformat10n contact Amelia Cota in La Raza Studies.
Page 4-La Voz de Aztlan-March 18, 1982
EL SALVADOR
_
LocaL groups .prote~t .Politician's positi9.Jl -
Seven)
met with
·-
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-
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.
.
.
.
Local community groups
eoqJ"eaman Tony Co-
elho and Chip Pashayan to urge ·
their opposition to Unite4 States
involvement in El Salvador.
The groups representatives
found Coelho CD-Merced) to be
somewhat in line with their posi-
tion.
But the meeting with Pashayan
resulted in a picket on George
Washington's birthday a week
later when some 70 persons protested the-Republican lawmaker's
support of US involvement in
El Salvador.
The delegation of representa- tives meeting with congressman
Pashayan included Arturo Vasquez and Phil Trainer of the Latin American Support Committee
(LASC); Connie Peterson and
Jacquelin Pilar of the Women's
International League for Peace
and Freedom (WILPF), Les
ber of United Black Men, Barbara Gaines of the Central Valley
Peace Network, and Sister Celestine Bowens a Dominican nun.
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According to Train~r congressman Pashayan was amazingly
uninformed.
"He didn't know about the
Wall Street Journal.article which
repudiated the validity of the
State Depai:tments white paper,
on El Salvador,'' said T:rainer.
"The white' paper alJeged·Cuban ·
and Nicaraguan involvement in
that conflict."
The delegation also learned
that corigressrnart · Pashayan's
only source of in formation is
limited to informar1on supplied
by the U.S. State Department.
Connie Peterson of WILPF
said ''the State Depar{ment had
evidently never told 'Ch1p' about
the opposition to U.S. interven- :
tion in· El Salvador by the con'7
ference of U.S. Catholic Bishops
or by the Bishop of El Salvador
and he certainly was not very well
informed about the widespread
abuses of human rights or about .
recent massacres by government
troops. "He didn't even know
that U.S. advisors in El Salvador
had been filmed the day before
·carrying Ml6 rifles," Ms. Peterson said.
The community members shocked to learn that the congressman
does not seem to be concerned
about the massive lack of human
rights for the Salvadorean people" said Arturo Vasquez one of
the representatives from LASC.
"He sees the conflict as being
between the Soviet Union and
the U.S. as opposed to arising
out of social and economic conditions."
The members of the delegation
said that congressman Pashayan
could
offer
no
proof
of Soviet, Cuban, or Nicaraguan
involvement in El Salvador but
insisted that our real adversary
there is "The Cuban Bear".
Describing their meeting with
congressman Pashayan to be totally unsatisfactory, the LatinAmerican Support Committee
and Women's International Leaguefor Peace and Freedom callt'for a ·demonstration in front of
his Shields .a nd Blackstone office.
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In addition to the over 70
demonstrators were several "dummies'' which organizers said symbolized the dead and mutilated
bodies found every morning on
the streets of San Salvador.
The picketers chanted "no
·draft, no war, U.S. out of El
Salvador", "Chip, Chip, open
your eyes we don't want genocide", and "shame, shame, Pashayan' s to blame." .
'
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Other protestors carried signs
saying "no Vietnam in El Salvador", or protesting Pashayans
support of further U.S. intervention in El Salvador.
Representatives of the Latin
American Support Committee
Mike Rhodes and Arturo Vasquez and Connis Peterson &
-
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Marcia McLane of WILPF also
met ·with congressman Tony Coelho on Feb. 12.
Congressman Coelho pointed
out to the group that he is a cosponsor of House Resolution 1509
which would cut off all U.S.
aid to El Salvador, and of House
Joint Resolution 399 which would
According to Vasquez, congressmen Coelho stated that he
has consistently opposed U.S.
intervention in El Salvador, just
as he long opposed the Viet Nam
war when he was congressional
aide to B.F. Sisk.
nuhty Pr~ident Keagan's certification that the Junta has significantly_reduced human rights violations. HJR 399 currently has 87
sponsors.
Arturo Vasquez added "It is ,
important for us to contact our
representatives in Washington
and let them know that we are
opposed to the U.S. aid to the El
Salvador government which has
murdered thousands of its own
citizens, but it is also important
that we show our opposition
through demonstrations and
protests.''
The Committee in solidarity
with the people of El · Salvador
has called for a mass demonstration to be held on March 27. A
blockade of the Naval Supply
Depot in Oakland is scheduled
for this date.
Reprinted from El Tiempo
Ir
~
March 18, /982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 5
Feedback
By Lourdes Villarreal and Pedro Perez
What suggestions would you make to improve tbe
overall quality of the food services on Campus?
John Bull Aborralor: Agriculture/ Graduate Student
"The food itself could be improved, as
f~r as taste and size is concerned. Probably make it a little bit more expensive.
but make the food taste better.
Also. in the evenings, before 7:00, there
is a smaller selecti on at that time because
they feel there are less people on campus.
We have no choice but to buy fries and
hamburgers! They should have Chinese
food and more Mexican food."
Nancy Montes: Criminology /Sophomore
"They should have better health foods.
More vegetables! Different types of cultural foods. The Mexican food here is
lousy! Having Chinese food would be
nice."
Susana Reyes: Business Administration/
Junior
"Better fries! Sometimes they're pretty
soggy! Everything else is pretty good.
They should have less hamburger goods.
Otherwise. 1 like what they have."
:,.
Julio Cesar Gramajo: Pschology/Graduate Student
"First of all. the school population and
the staff and faculty is quite large. We're
talking about. maybe. twentv to twentvtwo thousand people. So. therefore. the
cafeteria doesn't offer a good enough
sen·ice as far as choices is concerned. The
menu is \·ery very limited ."
Eduardo Mora: Industrial Technolo~)'/
Graduatin~ Senior
,.., hey\ e imprO\ cd the ordering proc::ss. But they're quite limited as to the
sdection the students hme. i\ little more
\ ariety \\ ould help. like h,n ing Chinese
rood."
Page 6
La Vo: de .Aztlan
March 18. 1982
M.E.Ch.A •• Building Leaders
By Sylvia Castro
la
\'01
S1aff Wri1er
M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan ) is more than just a
four-letter word. It is a movement which
has taken the form of an organization to
represent and educate Chicano studen_ts
on campus of current issues on campus, in
the community. national. and international relating to the Chicano cause.
Current M EChA president, Jerry Gonzalez. sees the movement as the major and
continuing objective of the organization
today . Noting back to the origin of the
organirntion in 1969, at a time when the
U.S. wa at war with North Vietnam.
college ·tudents, faculty and staff members bound together in protest over the
gross imbalance of the few minorities in
colleges compared to the numbers on the
front lines in battle. From those protests
derived many of the programs which we
now have today to promote opportunities
for Chicanos wishing to pursue higher
education. Some of those programs which
still exist are the La Raza Studies courses
and the Educati°'nal Opportunity Program (EOP). Gonzalez feels it is MEChA 's
task to "inform and lead them (students)
in the right direction and support others
that believe in their cause."
This task has not always been an easy
one to perform. As the years progressed
and the "fire'' of the late 60's and early 70's
died, on went the pioneers of the Chicano
Movement to pursue careers in the community still promoting the cause. How- .
ever. when the new blood was left to carry
on, they found the boots left behind by
their predecessors too big to fill. Many
had never experienced the struggle which
made it difficult to maintain a large and
active membership. Some had no idea
that their opportunity to attend college
via financial and special admissions programs, were made possible by great sacrifices by the early Mechistas. Sacrifices
which often meant delay in obtaining their
degree or total withdrawal from college to
give the Movement their undivided attention. It's not easy to study when the future
of your brothers', sisters'. and children's
education depends heavily on your efforts.
The leadership and organization itself
suffered many lulls due to the growing
apathy among Chicano students. With
· Reagan in office and the major cutbacks
his administration has proposed, the students of MEChA are becoming aware of
what their early leaders had t_o fight for.
Photo by Pete ·Valenzuela
Last year's president, Lily Martinez,
using her innate powers of speech and
persuasion, lit the "fire" once again, bringing Chicano students on campus together
and making M EChA an acJive working
machine. Membership increased enormously. A feeling of brotherhood among
Chicanos grew and soon all issues whether
on or off campus became of great concern
which often led to action by M EChA. It
also led to much criticism by Chicano
students still deluded in believing they had
done it on their own.
But an organization cannot depend on
one person alone to continue the work
that so many once did. This year M EChA
has a board of directors in which the work
is mutually distributed and shared. However, the bulk of the responsibility still
remains. as always, on the president. This
Perez appointed to
advisory board
Manuel Perez, assistant dean of student
affairs here at FS U, was appointed to the
State Social Services Advisory Board.
The Appointment was made by Gov.
Brown. The board deals with recommending State policies and studies to elected
officials.
Perez said he has always had a long and
continuous interest in policy making, and
through this interest was asked if he'd like
to serve on the board. The appointment is
not final until the state senate has approved it. Perez will be filling the vacancy
left by Sylvia Spencer.
Perez has not been fully briefed on how
the board is conducted, but he said they
meet once a month for two days in
different locations throughout the state.
Perez said he looks forward to developing state policies since they'll have a direct
effect on the people. Perez was a Fresno
Co_unty Probation Officer and a former
director of the E.O.P. Program here on
campus.
year's officers, whom are elected by the
general membership, are: president. Jerry
Gonzalez, vice-president, Rosemary Rodriguez, secretary, Sylvia Castro, Treasurer, Paul Espinosa. and two sergeant-ofarms, John Palafox and John Reyes.
Normally MEChA does not begin a session until the new academic year in the
fall, but once elected to office the board
found it necessary to stay active during the
summer and winter recesses concentrating
on community issues.
Some of M EChA 's past accomplishments and activities include: breakfast for
the U FW Convention in Fresno in September, as monitors in the March For
Jobs and Peace in September, Southwest
Voter Registration Project, supporting
the Bilingual Ballot and boycotting Gottschalk's. presenting the Coor's Boycott
resolution to the Associated Students,
support for the healthworkers strike in
Parlier last year. with other accomplishments.
This year one of MEChA's major projects is obtaining a Chicano Cultural
Center for the organization so that they
may have a work area for themselves.
Gonzalez explained that many times they
have to borrow equipment and space from
La Raza Studies along with other oncampusoffices which interfers with both M EChA's
work as well as the offices they borrow
from. Other current projects are: educating students on the situation in El Salvador, fighting the Reagan cutbacks and fee
increases, and of course. their annual
programs: the Chicano Youth Conference
in January and Semana de la Raza in
May.
Ad Hoc Food
Services Review
After two open hearings in the College
Union where comments were accepted
relative to campus food service operations. the Ad Hoc Food Services Committee had its third closed meeting to review
the information received and plot a course
to correct deficiencies and strengthen the
food service program. Under consideration is a restructuring of the now Food
Services Advisory Committee into a College Union type board empowered to set
policies while working directly with the
campus food services administrator.
Another item under review is a possible
recommendation to the California State
University. Fresno Association. Inc. Board
of Directors for a consultant to be
retained to sur\'ey campus attitudes relative to food costs. quality. and physical
facilities. In addition. the Ad Hoc Committee recommended an automated piece
of equipment known as the Tellu~ ~e
acquired. The equipment when installed 1s
capable of sun·eying customer attitudes at
rnrious locati(1ns throughout the campus.
The Committee expects to complete its
charge and forward recommendations to
the Board by late April of this year.
March 18. 1982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 7
Billngual Education
Serv·i ce Center
By Maria A. Peralez
La Voz Contributing Writer
Becoming a Bilingual, Bicultural teacher is a long and experiencing career for the
person seeking the credential. After completing four years of under graduate studies, the learning process continues. To
teach Spanish-speaking children English
effectively the educator has to evaluate the
materials and methods being used.
"Different varieties of the language
have their functions and they are equally
important. Home language, whether informal or regional has the important function of strengthening family ties through
communication , and the educator should
respect that form of expression," stated
Dr. Eutimio Topete, director of Bilingual
Education Service Center (BESC). He
went on to say that , standard variety is
important because it facilitates upward
mobility and encourages the speaker to
view its regional variety language as part
of a world language.
Aiding the ch,ild ren in making the Spanish to English transition is a difficult task
that teachers and their aides must be able
to implement in order for that child to
advance according. To help the educator
in accomplishing this , the services BESC
provides a variety of workshops set up by
Dr. Topete where he introduces various
materials and methods to make the transition easier.
The professional staff available through
BESC can prepare educators to provide
quality education for the non-English and
limited English proficient students.
In 1977 Dr. Topete published a series of
bilingual stories, N uestros Cuento ( Our
Stories), that the student can read on his
own or the instructor can read to them in a
group. He said "through these stories an
imaginative teacher can stimulate and
generate langu~ge _from the children."
Using different techniques as the Levenson's Language Experience Approach.
This method enables children to experience language in an enjoyable manner,
by actively participating they get motivated into learning how to read and write.
This is Dr. Topete 's second semester at
CSU F, although his roots are here in California he has taught at other universities.
Aiding the children in
making the Spanish to
English transition is a
difficult task.
He attended the University of Colorado in
Boulder, where he earned his Ph.D. in
education with emphasis in bilingual-multicultural Education and Curricular Social Foundations. Before that he attended
San .Francisco State University where he
rec;eived his masters of art and B. A. degree
in literature and Linguistics.
Dr. Eutemio Topete Director of Bilingual Service Center.
Dr. Topete's native language is Spanish
but is also fluent in English, French, and
Italian. his reason for learning these other
languages was out of necessity and exposure. He was a guide of summer institutions and had the opportunity to tour
South America and Europe.
The most recent of his publications are
"Possible Consequences of Heterogeneous Grouping," and "Recordar es Vivir"
that deals with research in bilingual
history.
Los ·Otividados and Macario, both
award winning films were brought on
campus by Dr. Topete, to expose, and
enhance people. The film Los Olividados
was on how poverty affects children and
Macario dealt with an allegorical tale of
dance. The last of the films being brought
to campus is ... Reeds l nsurgents Mexico" a
true characterization of John Reed's life
during the Mexican Revolution with Pancho Villa, a modern film with clips of old
documentaries. It will show April 21 in the
Old Science building room 16 l at 6:00
p.m., everyone is welcomed, admission is
free.
Bilingual education has everybody talking
By Susan M. Knight
Reprinted from The Arizona Daily Star
"I'm President Reagan, and I am cutting bilingual education because it's too
expensive and it doesn't work. Convince
me I am wrong."
With those words, teacher Ramon
Martinez goaded his sixth-graders at
Davis Bilingual Learning Center last
week.
r
Hands waved furiously for recognition.
David Ruiz, 11, was called to answer.
He stood and said, "Mr. President, you
should take the time to come to our school
and see how good the program has been
for us."
The mock president responded, "But
what about all the kids who are forced to
be bused across town, who have to come
to the barrio to go to school with the
Mexicans?"
Student William Hall, who gets up
early every day to catch a bus to take him
not to his neighborhood school but on a
SO-minute ride to Davis, handled the president with diplomacy. He sto~d and
sighed heavily.
"Mr. Reagan, we come here because we
want to. I think bilingual education and
mixing the cultures is working. It was
hard at first. But the kids from the
extended community are learning Mexicans' qualities, and they are learning some
qualities from the extended community.
We are learning to communicate with
other people," he said.
Where were the cameras? The exchange
between Martinez and his class seemed
more like a well-rehearsed act performed
to promote the idea of magnet schools and
bilingual education than part of a socialstudies lesson on government and economics.
If the enthusiasm of the 27 students in
the class could- be packaged and distributed throughout the city, Stan Paz's job as
director of bilingual education for the
Tucson Unified School District might be a
little easier.
Community support for the district's
bilingual programs has grown substantially since they were started with federal
funds in the early 1970s, ,but board
members and administrators still are
struggling to gain more public support for
the programs.
Bilingual education recently has encountered heavy criticism on a national
level. When the Reagan administration
announced plans to eliminate regulations
that require school districts to use bilingual education as the primary method for
teaching students whose language was not
English, it was stated that the programs
do not work and that children should
learn only English because it is the country's language.
The bilingual method teaches children
in both languages concurrently as proficiency in English and Spanish is acquired.
Proponents say it provides the students
with a strong foundation for learning
skills by using a language they already
know. It also lets Spanish-speaking students gain academic skills at a rate equal
to their English-speaking classmates, giving them a sense of success and positive
self-concept, supporters say.
But opponents believe it unfairly delays
the students' learning of English, the language they are expected to know to function in U.S. society. Critics also say bilingual education supports a pluralistic and
separatist society.
Parents, however.disagreed about which
method should be used to help the Hispanic children overcome the language
barrier. Since then, the district has implemented different methods ranging
from total immersion in English with an
emphasis on phonics to completely bilngual programs. Paz said district parents'
interest in the bilingual programs is now
stronger than in other methods.
After the Reagan administration's comments, district officials committed to bilingual education began digging their heels
in a little deeper, developing more programs and techniques to measure the programs' results. Paz is also working on a
"marketing plan."
The district's emphatic ommitment
came last summer when the Board of
Education voted to make bilingual education a separate, district-supported academic department with Paz as its director.
Federal Title VI I funds no longer were
being received for the Spanish-English
programs, and it was planned that the
Yaqui-English programs. now supported
by federal funds, would eventually be
district-funded.
Subsequently, the bord made bilingual
education one of its eminent priorities for
1981-82-"to develop, coordinate and
integrate bilingual-education programs."
But like the rest of the nation. bilingual
education in Tuc!.on is not popular with
everyone.
Many Hispanic parents request that
their children not be placed in bilingual
classes. but be immersed in English. Services should be provided. they say. to aid
the student in making the Spanish-toEnglish transition. not to maintain the
Spanish language.
Paz said bilingual education needs a
full-time public-relations manager to dispel some of the program's myths and
misconceptions.
"That's how I see myself. My major goal
is public relations." Paz said.
Even many school administrators hold
misconceptions, Paz said.
Paz said he plays golf regularly with a
group of Pima County school administrators. Often one will say, "'Stan. what do
you do? Oh. bilingual education. You
didn't ask me, but l think all children
should learn to speak English.'" Paz said.
His r~sponse is, "You didn •task me, but
so do I."'
He believes bilingual education will
gain popularity as the world. becomes
more of a global village. "We will need to
be able to speak other languages to
communicate."
"Spanish is a right-brain-hemisphere
language. emphasi1ing feelings. English is
a left-brain-hemisphere. emphasizing cognitive skills, l>e\'eloping both enriches a
person's intellectual abilities." he said.
The district's department will emphasi1.e teaching all students a second language. Pai said.
The United States as a whole is far
behind the rest of the world. he said. Pa7
recalled a round table discussion on bilingual education se\'en years ago attended
bv educators from around the world.
· "After the discussion about what each
country was doing. ~me man from Afghanistan said. "'It appears to . me the
United States is the queer bird in bilingual
education."'
Page 8-La Voz de _Aztlan-March 18, /982
Chihuahua Road Run
Otto De La Rocha:
Nicaraguan Musician Guitarist
Speakers Update On Nicaragua
and Central America
Sal Mosqueda Community Center
4670 E. Butler
Sunday, March 21, 1982 .7:00 p.m.
$2.50 at the Door
Stop the U.S.
War in
El Salvador,
March on
Oakland Naval
Supply Center
March 27
carpool Info. call
237-2763
Scholarships
Applications for the Third Annual
Chihuahua Road Run· Scholarships are
now available for currently enrolled CSU F
students. The scholarships are in recognition of two deceased employees of the firm
who dedicated their time and knowledge
to the growth of Chihuahua Inc.; Manuel
Gonzales, 31, and Rafael Maciel Jr.. 19.
Each scholarship awarded will be for
$300. Funds are raised for the scholarship~ at the annual Chihuahua Road Run
which is held in June of each year in the
West side of Fresno.
To be eligible for the scholarships all
applicants must meet the following qualifications:
- have completed 60 units before the
Spring 1982 semester;
- be a full-time student- 12 units or
more;
- have a declared major;
- have a minimum 2.5 GPA within their
Major;
- past and present activities will be
considered- submit in narrative form.
The deadline for applying is 5 p.m.,
March 26, 1982. Applications may be
picked up at Tutorial Services, SR3-l 16,
294-3052, and La Raza Studies, SR4-l 16,
294-2848.
Applications for editorships of
Daily Collegian
Hye Sharzhoom
La Voz de Aztlan
·uhuru Na Umoja
.
.
are now available at the A. S. Office in CU 316.
Applications must be returned to the A.S. _
Office
no later than
4:00 p.m. April 23, 1982~
COmadres -y- Compadres
MAPA/MPA
for Education
Endorsement Convention
Dance March 19, 1982
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight
Old Cafeteria
Music by A.T.M. Disco
•
Editor: Pedro Perez
Managing Editor: Lourdes Villarreal
Production Manager: Sandra Castro
Reporters: Julia Benitez, Margarita Martinez, David Duran, Bobby Rodriguez
Production: Larry Banales
Photographer: Pete Valenzuela
La Voz de Aztlan is California State
University Fresno's Chicano Newspaper.
La Voz de Atzlan is located in the Keat:
Campus Building.
Editorials: (209) 294-2486. Letters t<
the editor are welcomed. The newspaper
reserves the right to edit letters.
I
On Saturday March 27, 1982, from 10
a.m. _to 4 p.m. the Fresno chapter of the
Mexican American Political Association
( MAPA) and Mujeres for Political Action
( M PA) will co-sponsor a candidate's
endorsement convention at the Sierra
Vista United Methodist Church meeting
room. located at 4609 E. Illinois Avenue.
According to endorsement committee
co-chairperson Pat Aguirre. the forum is
being used to allow candidates. for the
J un_e 1982 primary elections. an opportun~ty to present their platforms and views
on important issues concerning the Chicano community. Each candidate is scheduled to speak a total of 10 minutes of
which 5 minutes will be directed towards
4uestions from the audience.
"In addition." noted Aguirre. "the
forum will give interested communit\'
members a chance to preYiew the candidate's qualifications and reasons for seeking office. as well as an overview of their
campaign platforms. All interested are
encouraged to at.t end."
..
.-DE
La Voz Staff Writer
__
--
AZTLAN
Thursday, Marc_h 18, 1982
California State University, Fresno
By Bobby Rodriguez
.,,,,
CCVMC Oppo.se
Sale of VMC
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors
recently elected to spend an additional
$40,000 to $50,000 to look into whether
Va·lley Medical Cente r should be converted into a private non-profit
organization.
The meeting was preceeded by a rally
held at VMC, where about 50 people
gathered to voice their opposition to the
proposed sale of VMC. The Community
Coalition on Valley Medical Center spear
headed the rally and is the driving force
behind the opposition. Spokesman for
CCVMC, Bill Plumb said "They opposed
the sale and conversi on of VMC to a
private, non-profi t organization." He
added that the poor of the community
would not receive adequate care under the
proposed plan.
At the public heari ng other members of
the CCVM C r eiterated Plumb's
sentiments. Others speaking in opposition
included members of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom,
United Black Men of Fresno, Parlier City
Council members , the Fresno-Madera
Medical Society, and Councilman Leonel
Alvarado.
Councilman Alvarado requested that
the Board look carefully at the possible
ramifications involved in the selling of
VMC, which include the medical education the hospital now provides, the 1300
employees whose future at VMC is unsure, the Industrial Development Bonds,
and the Medical needs of Fresno County's
farmworker population.
The Board of Supervisors. however,
elected to go ahead with the County
Administrative Office's recommendation
that it prepare a detailed plan for the
conversion.
What that will mean according to
CCV MC is that the poor residents of the
community will be prevented from receiving medical care. And the cost affects all
residents, not only those individuals denied access to treatment. The County's
policy CCVMC maintains will also limit
pregnant women access to prenatal care.
That means that women with high-risk
conditions will not be able to receive the
monitoring and care that is proven to
prevent disabilities, debilitating diseases,
and infant mortality.
Valley Medical Center is the sole public
county hospital remaining in the Central
San Joaquin Valley, and it is also the
primary institution in the Central Valley
serving the indigent and Medi-Cal population. In addition, it . is a regional
institution in that it is a medical training
facility. Whether VMC remains true to its
state is still to be seen. The administrative
office's findings will be presented to the
Board at another public hearing on July
20 at 2 p.m.
VM C is the sole county
hospital in SJV
Valenzuela: Candidate for Supervisor
By Fernando Quintero
La Vo, Contributing Write r
Frank Valenzuela has been a public
employee for a large part of his life.
Having been a publ ic employee for the
past 26 years. Valenzuela has been a
probation and police officer. served as
mayor of Hollister, and currently, is a
representative for the American Federation of State. County. and Municipal
Employees.
Challenging County Supervisor Harry
Huey, Valenzuela says that Huey does not
represent his own district. "He hasn't done
a thi_ng for 95 percent of the people in his
district," said Valenzuela. "The people on
the West side need representation ."
Commenting on several key issues .
~alen7Uela sat up in his chair a~ his
intense. dark eyes, barely visible through
the dim obscure light of his downtown
office. opened wide with attentiveness .
"I don't think the bilingual ballot was
any of the Board of Supervisors business,"
commented Valenzuela. "Why would they
want to hinder any participation at the
\oting booths?"
"I decided to run for Supervisor because I think I can stop some of the
negativeness perpetrated by the present boardnamely Jeff Reich." said Valenzuela. He
added that he could neutralize and help
eliminate much of the ignorance which
prompted the Board's decision to eliminate the bilingual ballot.
•
On the issue of the proposed downtown
hotel. Valenzuela said that there was
sufficient interest by property owners and
a large number of citizens toat least put it
on the ballot for the local June election.
Calling Huey a "perpetrator for Reagan
Republicanism." Valenzuela clearly
showed his dissention and skepticism
toward the current Reagan administration. "Reagan lives by double standards,"
criticized Valenzuela. "El Salvador stinks
because we're interfering where we
shouldn't. I'm totally against politics that
have money for killing people rather than
helping them ."
'He hasn't done a thing
for 95% of the people in
his district,' said Valenzuela. 'The people on
the Westside need representation.'
:.:::•·····;·.
•
•:•·
:,:/:=::>-·
•. __•
Photo by Pete Valenzuela
Valenzuela believes that much can be
done at the local level to alleviate and
counteract what he feels are detrimental
administrative policies.
Students need more rental housing and
employment opportunities." said Yalenrnela. "I can't overemphasize how much
can be done at the local level to help many
of these and other problems."
Frank Valenzuela candidate for
Supervisor
Page }-La Voz de Aztlan-Mart·h 18, 1982
Letters to the editor
New Admission
Requirements
To the editor:
'
The California State University Board
of Trustees has approved new admission
requirements for the C~l!fornia State
University system. Requmng freshmen
entering the system in 1984 to have completed four years of college-prep~ratory
English and two years of math 1s long
overdue. Far too many college graduates
are leaving the system still unable to write
a simple letter, let alone a well-developed
essay or term paper. Their inability to deal
with math skills such as geometry and
algebra also leaves them ill-prepared for
the jobs that await them.
Some people are protesting the adoption of these new requirements. One of the
complaints is that the requirements will
keep minorities out of college. Because of
poor counseling, discrimination, economic disparity, and a number of other factors, minorities will not be able to prepare
themselves to meet those requirements.
There is no doubt that inequality exists
in our system of education. Discrimin~tion and prejudice have not been eradicated from our society let alone from our
schools. Poverty and other social problems also play a part in determining the
quality of education one receives.
To the editor:
The current trend of political decisions
on education has caused concern among
minority students. Policy changes and
drastic cuts in financial aid has caused
many students to reevaluate the likelihood of a pursuit for higher education.
Among these changes are: The new
entrance requirements to the CSUC system, the proposed state fee hikes, and the
proposed cuts in Federal Financial Aid.
The new entrance requirements would
require students to complete four years of
English and two years of mathematics, the
phasing in period of these requirements
would he in 1984. The requirements are
not the problem, the additional English
and math would benefit the student. The
problem .irises with the phasing in period
of the requirements. The current opinion
of many high school counselors is to overlook the minority student who is not the
above average student and whose thoughts
of going after a college education cannot
be followed because of economic and at
times cultural problems. Many minority
parents cannot afford to send their children to college, and whereas many migrant
parents have themselves never been familiar to education, but rather the main focus
is on getting enough food to feed their
families. the child suffers from not having
parental guidance. Therefore, the numbers that would be lost to the new
requirements can only be guessed at. One
has only to look upon the number of students who now attend State that got in
before them.
The proposed State fee hikes again are
an issue that affect not only minority students but rather all students. The minority
student again is singled out to ·be affected
the hardest. The cooperation of many
students has caused the Governor to
change the cuts from 5 to 2.5 percent. The
issue again being to the minority student
that college is not economically feasible.
The one change that will affect all students is the proposed cuts in Federal
Financial Aid. The people in the White
House are asking for two billion dollars
cut from federally funded programs. The
impact would be so severe that again colleges and universities would be populated
only by the wealthy. Minority students
face on the most serious challenges to
appear in many years.
The new programs and the proposed
changes that are before all students have
put to question, Is higher education a
right or a privilege?
David Duran
A.S. Senator
The solution to these problems. however, does not lie in loosening the entrance
requirements for college. Rather, attention should be given to dealing with these
problems at the elementary, junior high
and high school levels. Teachers, counselors or other school personnel who show
themselves to be unfit can and should be
removed. School policies and regulations
w:hich are discriminatory can be changed .
Efforts should also be made to get parents
more in'(olved with their children's education. Interested groups could provide
translators and / or advisers to accompany
parents to PT A meetings, teacher-parent
conferences, or any other school related
function. Providing tutors to those students who need them would also contri, bute to a more positive learning experience; the suggestions could go on and on.
Perhaps the most important way to
help prepare our students to meet the new
college requirements is to encourage initiative, to teach them to be self-starters.
Too many of our students are going
through school with the idea that they
don't have to work, that somewhere along
the line someone or some program will get
them through to the next step. Not only
do such students then fail to learn the
necessary academic skills_at the proper
time, they also fail to mature to the point
where there is such a thing as personal
responsibility.
Lydia Mendoza
To the editor:
I was pleased to see your story ab?ut
Lydia Mendoza. It shows that there _is a
real function for La Voz de Aztlan since
no other publication on campus has
shown even the slightest interest in the fact
that this legendary and internationally
renowned Chicana artist will be here for
the entire semester.
But your story is far from accurate. Ms.
Mendoza is here as a Resident Folk Artist
in a program which I initiated here in_ 1976
with the cooperation of the National
Endowment for the Arts and CSU F. She
is the fifth RF A, the others having been
specialists in Anglo-Celtic, Afro-American, Southern Appalachian, and Armenian folk traditions. It's important to
emphasize that this is a matching funds
program. which means that CSU F has
been willing to provide its share of funding for these important programs even
though there is a tight economic squeeze.
Even more important is that you neglected to mention that Ms. Mendoza not
only teaches her class on Thursday evenings but is available free of. ch~rge ~o
schools and non-profit organizations 10
the community and neighboring areas.
Again, this is a contributi-0n that C:SUF
makes to the understanding of Chicano
culture in our community and people need
to be aware of that commitment.
Gene Bluestein
Professor of English, CSU F
Director, Resident Folk Artist Program
If people now protesting the new college entrance requirements truly believed
in the capabilities and pbtential of minorities and women, they would not be so
quick to predict the "phasing out" of these
two groups from the college system. And
if they were sincerely interested in the
status of minorities and women in our
society they would be calling for even
stricter academic requirements for our
schools. Quality education can only mean
progress for our society as a whole; for
minorities and women quality education
can mean strength, self-confidence, and
pride- a firm belief that they are just as
capable as anybody else.
The new entrance requirements are not
completely satisfactory. They aren't specific enough as to what these additional
English and math classes will teach.
Nevertheless, they are a step forward in
helping to insure that entering students
can do college-level work . More important, perhaps these requirements will
serve as a challenge for us to go into the
elementary, junior high and high schools
to help our children reach their true
potential. Let us not deny them access to a
college education because the talents and
abilities they have were never discovered
and developed to their fullest.
Sincerely,
Mercedes E. Gonzalez.
Middle East"
and the
"The U.S.
A presentation on "The U.S. and the
Middle East: Comprehensive Peace or
Comprehensive Security?" will be given at
the California State University, Fresno,
on Friday, March 19, 1982, at noon, in the
College Ul!ion Lounge. The speaker is
. Political Science professor, Dr. Naseer H.
Aruri of Southeastern Massachusetts
University.
Dr. Aruri_ has studied and written
extensively on Palestine. the Middle East,
and U.S. relations in the Middle East. He
lectured on more than 70 college campuses on the Middle East since 1968. His
fields of concentration are in comparative
politics. political development, the Middle East and international relations. He
also participated as a vi.s iting professor for
the Poltical Science Department at Kuwait Universi'ty in Kuwait. In 1967. he
received his Ph.D. at the University of
Massachusetts.
Since 1969. Dr.Aruri wrote numerous
articles and books. Some of his publications include: Lebanon: A Challenge to
the Arab World; The Chapter on Syrian
Strategy; Jordan: A Study in Political
Development; 1921-1965; The Palestinian
Resistance to Israel's Occupation.
P .A.S.S. Program'
To the editor:
As many students already know. President Reagan's proposed budget cuts in
educational services will have devastating
effects on the nation's universities. as well
as the students. Among the targets of
massive reductions are programs such as
the P.A.S.S. Program here on cmapus.
Nationally. a total of $5.5 million is
expected to be cut from the Special Services for Disadvantaged Students fund. which
provides services for more than 157.000
students. Under the proposed cuts 16.200
students will be eliminated. In addition.
the Administration is attempting further
reduction and eliminations of various
student financial assistance programs.
What can 0.>u do to help stop these
proposals'?: Write to local legisl~tors.
newspapers. and television and radio stations regarding the effects of the proposed
cuts. Immediate action should be taken
since Congress will decide on the prop?sed projects in late March or early April.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Larry Banales
P.A.S.S.
Clerk
March 18. /982-la Voz de Aztlan-Page 3
Las Adelitas Still
Cracking the Whip
'
It has been said that the strength of a revolution can be judged by
the role women take in it. Millions of Mexican women fought in many
ways during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Countrywomen went
beside their men with children and cooking-gear on their backs. They
took up arms, sometimes disguised as men, and fought on the
battleground; many reached the rank of Colonel. These women,
named Las Adelitas, all saw their own liberation as an integral part of
the 'revolutionary struggle of their people.
ln the fall of 1969 a group of Chicana women joined together on
Fresno State University and formed an organization named after
their ancestors, Las Adelitas. According to Irma Marquez, a CSU F
alumni and organization founder, Las Adelitas was formed during a
"militant period." Because of the Movimiento period here in the U.S.,
Chicanas on campus could easily relate to Las Adelitas of the
Mexican Revolution. The women also adopted the song, La Adelita
as their theme song.
Like all women organizations, Las Adelitas had its criticism from
Chicanos who saw Las Adelitas as a separate identity from the
movimiento. "The men were apprehensive about the organization,"
said Marq_uez. "Because we did many things for the community such
as fun~ra1sers, th~y t~ought we were becoming like a sorority."
According to Aguirre, 1t took the men a while to recognize that the
women were still supporting them.
Las Ade/itas were the
"backpone" of the Fresno food services strike
in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia,
EOP counselor.
Adelitas organization meeting.
The organization began out of a need to educate themselves about
the movimiento. According to Marquez, "The men in M EChA were
not very responsive to our ideas and discussions during M EChA
meetings. We really didn't know enough about the movement; so we
decided to get together once a week to help each other learn more
about the movement."
About 8 to IO women would meet once a week and would hear
reports on different organizations and events involved in the
movement. The women were thus involved in a learning project. Pat
Aguirre, PASS director, said, "Las Adelitas was a training ground to
be able to do something in MEChA."
Chicanas also felt that M EChA was purely political and they had
other needs to be fulfilled. Most of the original members were
education majors, so they met to talk and develop their ideas. The
organization developed a tutoring program for elementary schools.
Some women would volunteer a couple of hours a night to tutor
youngsters. Las Adelitas were actively involved in community '
organization causes. The organization would "throw" big parties,
dances, or food sales to raise money and food for such organizations
as the UFW, MESA, etc. Las Adelitas' primary goals included
assisting Chicanos in the political, social and education aspects of the
community and campaigns. "Community organizations would always
come to us for support of some type," said Aguirre.
By 1971; Las Adelitas was a strong organization with about 30
members. Las Adelitas were the "backbone" of the Fresno food
service strike in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia, EO P
counselor. The Fresno College food services was buying non-union
lettuce and M EChA initiated a boycott against the food services.
While M EChA was handing out literature and educating the people
on the boycott, Las Adelitas were selling food right in front of the
cafeteria. Unfortunately when Las Adelitas began making the food,
the health department restricted them from selling the food. Persevering, Las Adelitas bought products from local restaurants and sold it.
Thus they were able to help make the food service boycott a success.
In 1972 an Adelita, Grace Solis, was chairperson of FSU's protest
against Governor Reagan's failure to include funds for EOP in the
1972-73 state college budget. The protestors camped out on the lawn
next to the Free Speech area.
"Adelitas had a strong reputation throughout the state because of
their involvement and activities," said Garcia.
Las Adelitas through its existence created a sisterhood among
Chicanas on campus. This was partly done by the annual initiation
night which was a time for talking and becoming familiar with one
another. Most of the Adelitas were from rural towns, first child to go
to college, and felt they had no choice but to ban together.
How has being in such an organization helped Chicanas? Pat
Aguirre said that Adelitas has helped in a three-fold manner. First. the
members became comadres. Secondly. the same women involved in
Adelitas went on to be the founders and members of other women
groups such as the League of Mexican American Women and
Mujeres for Political Action. Thirdly, being involved helped to find
each one's individual specialties. Garcia said. "Adelitas gave me a
chance to express myself."
Marquez said. "I learned about women and about myself as a
woman. I know I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the strong
relationships built with members.'' Marquez felt strongly that in
relationships with men, she learned how to deal with men. for prior to
college she knew nothing of "man supremacy." "Had the men accepted
us, I don't think I would have learned as much about life and
relationships," she said.
Las Adelitas hast hroughout the years been involved in the events of
its ~ii:ries. Presently the organization is going through with structural
rev~s1ons and pla~s to continue its involvement with the political.
social, and ~ducat1onal aspects of the campus and community.
_ La_s Adeli~as meets.every Wednesday at noon in the College Union.
for turther mformat10n contact Amelia Cota in La Raza Studies.
Page 4-La Voz de Aztlan-March 18, 1982
EL SALVADOR
_
LocaL groups .prote~t .Politician's positi9.Jl -
Seven)
met with
·-
,
'
-
-
.
.
.
.
Local community groups
eoqJ"eaman Tony Co-
elho and Chip Pashayan to urge ·
their opposition to Unite4 States
involvement in El Salvador.
The groups representatives
found Coelho CD-Merced) to be
somewhat in line with their posi-
tion.
But the meeting with Pashayan
resulted in a picket on George
Washington's birthday a week
later when some 70 persons protested the-Republican lawmaker's
support of US involvement in
El Salvador.
The delegation of representa- tives meeting with congressman
Pashayan included Arturo Vasquez and Phil Trainer of the Latin American Support Committee
(LASC); Connie Peterson and
Jacquelin Pilar of the Women's
International League for Peace
and Freedom (WILPF), Les
ber of United Black Men, Barbara Gaines of the Central Valley
Peace Network, and Sister Celestine Bowens a Dominican nun.
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According to Train~r congressman Pashayan was amazingly
uninformed.
"He didn't know about the
Wall Street Journal.article which
repudiated the validity of the
State Depai:tments white paper,
on El Salvador,'' said T:rainer.
"The white' paper alJeged·Cuban ·
and Nicaraguan involvement in
that conflict."
The delegation also learned
that corigressrnart · Pashayan's
only source of in formation is
limited to informar1on supplied
by the U.S. State Department.
Connie Peterson of WILPF
said ''the State Depar{ment had
evidently never told 'Ch1p' about
the opposition to U.S. interven- :
tion in· El Salvador by the con'7
ference of U.S. Catholic Bishops
or by the Bishop of El Salvador
and he certainly was not very well
informed about the widespread
abuses of human rights or about .
recent massacres by government
troops. "He didn't even know
that U.S. advisors in El Salvador
had been filmed the day before
·carrying Ml6 rifles," Ms. Peterson said.
The community members shocked to learn that the congressman
does not seem to be concerned
about the massive lack of human
rights for the Salvadorean people" said Arturo Vasquez one of
the representatives from LASC.
"He sees the conflict as being
between the Soviet Union and
the U.S. as opposed to arising
out of social and economic conditions."
The members of the delegation
said that congressman Pashayan
could
offer
no
proof
of Soviet, Cuban, or Nicaraguan
involvement in El Salvador but
insisted that our real adversary
there is "The Cuban Bear".
Describing their meeting with
congressman Pashayan to be totally unsatisfactory, the LatinAmerican Support Committee
and Women's International Leaguefor Peace and Freedom callt'for a ·demonstration in front of
his Shields .a nd Blackstone office.
(
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In addition to the over 70
demonstrators were several "dummies'' which organizers said symbolized the dead and mutilated
bodies found every morning on
the streets of San Salvador.
The picketers chanted "no
·draft, no war, U.S. out of El
Salvador", "Chip, Chip, open
your eyes we don't want genocide", and "shame, shame, Pashayan' s to blame." .
'
_
.,,,..,.-
~
Other protestors carried signs
saying "no Vietnam in El Salvador", or protesting Pashayans
support of further U.S. intervention in El Salvador.
Representatives of the Latin
American Support Committee
Mike Rhodes and Arturo Vasquez and Connis Peterson &
-
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-
.,,,,,.,. - - --
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.
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Marcia McLane of WILPF also
met ·with congressman Tony Coelho on Feb. 12.
Congressman Coelho pointed
out to the group that he is a cosponsor of House Resolution 1509
which would cut off all U.S.
aid to El Salvador, and of House
Joint Resolution 399 which would
According to Vasquez, congressmen Coelho stated that he
has consistently opposed U.S.
intervention in El Salvador, just
as he long opposed the Viet Nam
war when he was congressional
aide to B.F. Sisk.
nuhty Pr~ident Keagan's certification that the Junta has significantly_reduced human rights violations. HJR 399 currently has 87
sponsors.
Arturo Vasquez added "It is ,
important for us to contact our
representatives in Washington
and let them know that we are
opposed to the U.S. aid to the El
Salvador government which has
murdered thousands of its own
citizens, but it is also important
that we show our opposition
through demonstrations and
protests.''
The Committee in solidarity
with the people of El · Salvador
has called for a mass demonstration to be held on March 27. A
blockade of the Naval Supply
Depot in Oakland is scheduled
for this date.
Reprinted from El Tiempo
Ir
~
March 18, /982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 5
Feedback
By Lourdes Villarreal and Pedro Perez
What suggestions would you make to improve tbe
overall quality of the food services on Campus?
John Bull Aborralor: Agriculture/ Graduate Student
"The food itself could be improved, as
f~r as taste and size is concerned. Probably make it a little bit more expensive.
but make the food taste better.
Also. in the evenings, before 7:00, there
is a smaller selecti on at that time because
they feel there are less people on campus.
We have no choice but to buy fries and
hamburgers! They should have Chinese
food and more Mexican food."
Nancy Montes: Criminology /Sophomore
"They should have better health foods.
More vegetables! Different types of cultural foods. The Mexican food here is
lousy! Having Chinese food would be
nice."
Susana Reyes: Business Administration/
Junior
"Better fries! Sometimes they're pretty
soggy! Everything else is pretty good.
They should have less hamburger goods.
Otherwise. 1 like what they have."
:,.
Julio Cesar Gramajo: Pschology/Graduate Student
"First of all. the school population and
the staff and faculty is quite large. We're
talking about. maybe. twentv to twentvtwo thousand people. So. therefore. the
cafeteria doesn't offer a good enough
sen·ice as far as choices is concerned. The
menu is \·ery very limited ."
Eduardo Mora: Industrial Technolo~)'/
Graduatin~ Senior
,.., hey\ e imprO\ cd the ordering proc::ss. But they're quite limited as to the
sdection the students hme. i\ little more
\ ariety \\ ould help. like h,n ing Chinese
rood."
Page 6
La Vo: de .Aztlan
March 18. 1982
M.E.Ch.A •• Building Leaders
By Sylvia Castro
la
\'01
S1aff Wri1er
M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan ) is more than just a
four-letter word. It is a movement which
has taken the form of an organization to
represent and educate Chicano studen_ts
on campus of current issues on campus, in
the community. national. and international relating to the Chicano cause.
Current M EChA president, Jerry Gonzalez. sees the movement as the major and
continuing objective of the organization
today . Noting back to the origin of the
organirntion in 1969, at a time when the
U.S. wa at war with North Vietnam.
college ·tudents, faculty and staff members bound together in protest over the
gross imbalance of the few minorities in
colleges compared to the numbers on the
front lines in battle. From those protests
derived many of the programs which we
now have today to promote opportunities
for Chicanos wishing to pursue higher
education. Some of those programs which
still exist are the La Raza Studies courses
and the Educati°'nal Opportunity Program (EOP). Gonzalez feels it is MEChA 's
task to "inform and lead them (students)
in the right direction and support others
that believe in their cause."
This task has not always been an easy
one to perform. As the years progressed
and the "fire'' of the late 60's and early 70's
died, on went the pioneers of the Chicano
Movement to pursue careers in the community still promoting the cause. How- .
ever. when the new blood was left to carry
on, they found the boots left behind by
their predecessors too big to fill. Many
had never experienced the struggle which
made it difficult to maintain a large and
active membership. Some had no idea
that their opportunity to attend college
via financial and special admissions programs, were made possible by great sacrifices by the early Mechistas. Sacrifices
which often meant delay in obtaining their
degree or total withdrawal from college to
give the Movement their undivided attention. It's not easy to study when the future
of your brothers', sisters'. and children's
education depends heavily on your efforts.
The leadership and organization itself
suffered many lulls due to the growing
apathy among Chicano students. With
· Reagan in office and the major cutbacks
his administration has proposed, the students of MEChA are becoming aware of
what their early leaders had t_o fight for.
Photo by Pete ·Valenzuela
Last year's president, Lily Martinez,
using her innate powers of speech and
persuasion, lit the "fire" once again, bringing Chicano students on campus together
and making M EChA an acJive working
machine. Membership increased enormously. A feeling of brotherhood among
Chicanos grew and soon all issues whether
on or off campus became of great concern
which often led to action by M EChA. It
also led to much criticism by Chicano
students still deluded in believing they had
done it on their own.
But an organization cannot depend on
one person alone to continue the work
that so many once did. This year M EChA
has a board of directors in which the work
is mutually distributed and shared. However, the bulk of the responsibility still
remains. as always, on the president. This
Perez appointed to
advisory board
Manuel Perez, assistant dean of student
affairs here at FS U, was appointed to the
State Social Services Advisory Board.
The Appointment was made by Gov.
Brown. The board deals with recommending State policies and studies to elected
officials.
Perez said he has always had a long and
continuous interest in policy making, and
through this interest was asked if he'd like
to serve on the board. The appointment is
not final until the state senate has approved it. Perez will be filling the vacancy
left by Sylvia Spencer.
Perez has not been fully briefed on how
the board is conducted, but he said they
meet once a month for two days in
different locations throughout the state.
Perez said he looks forward to developing state policies since they'll have a direct
effect on the people. Perez was a Fresno
Co_unty Probation Officer and a former
director of the E.O.P. Program here on
campus.
year's officers, whom are elected by the
general membership, are: president. Jerry
Gonzalez, vice-president, Rosemary Rodriguez, secretary, Sylvia Castro, Treasurer, Paul Espinosa. and two sergeant-ofarms, John Palafox and John Reyes.
Normally MEChA does not begin a session until the new academic year in the
fall, but once elected to office the board
found it necessary to stay active during the
summer and winter recesses concentrating
on community issues.
Some of M EChA 's past accomplishments and activities include: breakfast for
the U FW Convention in Fresno in September, as monitors in the March For
Jobs and Peace in September, Southwest
Voter Registration Project, supporting
the Bilingual Ballot and boycotting Gottschalk's. presenting the Coor's Boycott
resolution to the Associated Students,
support for the healthworkers strike in
Parlier last year. with other accomplishments.
This year one of MEChA's major projects is obtaining a Chicano Cultural
Center for the organization so that they
may have a work area for themselves.
Gonzalez explained that many times they
have to borrow equipment and space from
La Raza Studies along with other oncampusoffices which interfers with both M EChA's
work as well as the offices they borrow
from. Other current projects are: educating students on the situation in El Salvador, fighting the Reagan cutbacks and fee
increases, and of course. their annual
programs: the Chicano Youth Conference
in January and Semana de la Raza in
May.
Ad Hoc Food
Services Review
After two open hearings in the College
Union where comments were accepted
relative to campus food service operations. the Ad Hoc Food Services Committee had its third closed meeting to review
the information received and plot a course
to correct deficiencies and strengthen the
food service program. Under consideration is a restructuring of the now Food
Services Advisory Committee into a College Union type board empowered to set
policies while working directly with the
campus food services administrator.
Another item under review is a possible
recommendation to the California State
University. Fresno Association. Inc. Board
of Directors for a consultant to be
retained to sur\'ey campus attitudes relative to food costs. quality. and physical
facilities. In addition. the Ad Hoc Committee recommended an automated piece
of equipment known as the Tellu~ ~e
acquired. The equipment when installed 1s
capable of sun·eying customer attitudes at
rnrious locati(1ns throughout the campus.
The Committee expects to complete its
charge and forward recommendations to
the Board by late April of this year.
March 18. 1982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 7
Billngual Education
Serv·i ce Center
By Maria A. Peralez
La Voz Contributing Writer
Becoming a Bilingual, Bicultural teacher is a long and experiencing career for the
person seeking the credential. After completing four years of under graduate studies, the learning process continues. To
teach Spanish-speaking children English
effectively the educator has to evaluate the
materials and methods being used.
"Different varieties of the language
have their functions and they are equally
important. Home language, whether informal or regional has the important function of strengthening family ties through
communication , and the educator should
respect that form of expression," stated
Dr. Eutimio Topete, director of Bilingual
Education Service Center (BESC). He
went on to say that , standard variety is
important because it facilitates upward
mobility and encourages the speaker to
view its regional variety language as part
of a world language.
Aiding the ch,ild ren in making the Spanish to English transition is a difficult task
that teachers and their aides must be able
to implement in order for that child to
advance according. To help the educator
in accomplishing this , the services BESC
provides a variety of workshops set up by
Dr. Topete where he introduces various
materials and methods to make the transition easier.
The professional staff available through
BESC can prepare educators to provide
quality education for the non-English and
limited English proficient students.
In 1977 Dr. Topete published a series of
bilingual stories, N uestros Cuento ( Our
Stories), that the student can read on his
own or the instructor can read to them in a
group. He said "through these stories an
imaginative teacher can stimulate and
generate langu~ge _from the children."
Using different techniques as the Levenson's Language Experience Approach.
This method enables children to experience language in an enjoyable manner,
by actively participating they get motivated into learning how to read and write.
This is Dr. Topete 's second semester at
CSU F, although his roots are here in California he has taught at other universities.
Aiding the children in
making the Spanish to
English transition is a
difficult task.
He attended the University of Colorado in
Boulder, where he earned his Ph.D. in
education with emphasis in bilingual-multicultural Education and Curricular Social Foundations. Before that he attended
San .Francisco State University where he
rec;eived his masters of art and B. A. degree
in literature and Linguistics.
Dr. Eutemio Topete Director of Bilingual Service Center.
Dr. Topete's native language is Spanish
but is also fluent in English, French, and
Italian. his reason for learning these other
languages was out of necessity and exposure. He was a guide of summer institutions and had the opportunity to tour
South America and Europe.
The most recent of his publications are
"Possible Consequences of Heterogeneous Grouping," and "Recordar es Vivir"
that deals with research in bilingual
history.
Los ·Otividados and Macario, both
award winning films were brought on
campus by Dr. Topete, to expose, and
enhance people. The film Los Olividados
was on how poverty affects children and
Macario dealt with an allegorical tale of
dance. The last of the films being brought
to campus is ... Reeds l nsurgents Mexico" a
true characterization of John Reed's life
during the Mexican Revolution with Pancho Villa, a modern film with clips of old
documentaries. It will show April 21 in the
Old Science building room 16 l at 6:00
p.m., everyone is welcomed, admission is
free.
Bilingual education has everybody talking
By Susan M. Knight
Reprinted from The Arizona Daily Star
"I'm President Reagan, and I am cutting bilingual education because it's too
expensive and it doesn't work. Convince
me I am wrong."
With those words, teacher Ramon
Martinez goaded his sixth-graders at
Davis Bilingual Learning Center last
week.
r
Hands waved furiously for recognition.
David Ruiz, 11, was called to answer.
He stood and said, "Mr. President, you
should take the time to come to our school
and see how good the program has been
for us."
The mock president responded, "But
what about all the kids who are forced to
be bused across town, who have to come
to the barrio to go to school with the
Mexicans?"
Student William Hall, who gets up
early every day to catch a bus to take him
not to his neighborhood school but on a
SO-minute ride to Davis, handled the president with diplomacy. He sto~d and
sighed heavily.
"Mr. Reagan, we come here because we
want to. I think bilingual education and
mixing the cultures is working. It was
hard at first. But the kids from the
extended community are learning Mexicans' qualities, and they are learning some
qualities from the extended community.
We are learning to communicate with
other people," he said.
Where were the cameras? The exchange
between Martinez and his class seemed
more like a well-rehearsed act performed
to promote the idea of magnet schools and
bilingual education than part of a socialstudies lesson on government and economics.
If the enthusiasm of the 27 students in
the class could- be packaged and distributed throughout the city, Stan Paz's job as
director of bilingual education for the
Tucson Unified School District might be a
little easier.
Community support for the district's
bilingual programs has grown substantially since they were started with federal
funds in the early 1970s, ,but board
members and administrators still are
struggling to gain more public support for
the programs.
Bilingual education recently has encountered heavy criticism on a national
level. When the Reagan administration
announced plans to eliminate regulations
that require school districts to use bilingual education as the primary method for
teaching students whose language was not
English, it was stated that the programs
do not work and that children should
learn only English because it is the country's language.
The bilingual method teaches children
in both languages concurrently as proficiency in English and Spanish is acquired.
Proponents say it provides the students
with a strong foundation for learning
skills by using a language they already
know. It also lets Spanish-speaking students gain academic skills at a rate equal
to their English-speaking classmates, giving them a sense of success and positive
self-concept, supporters say.
But opponents believe it unfairly delays
the students' learning of English, the language they are expected to know to function in U.S. society. Critics also say bilingual education supports a pluralistic and
separatist society.
Parents, however.disagreed about which
method should be used to help the Hispanic children overcome the language
barrier. Since then, the district has implemented different methods ranging
from total immersion in English with an
emphasis on phonics to completely bilngual programs. Paz said district parents'
interest in the bilingual programs is now
stronger than in other methods.
After the Reagan administration's comments, district officials committed to bilingual education began digging their heels
in a little deeper, developing more programs and techniques to measure the programs' results. Paz is also working on a
"marketing plan."
The district's emphatic ommitment
came last summer when the Board of
Education voted to make bilingual education a separate, district-supported academic department with Paz as its director.
Federal Title VI I funds no longer were
being received for the Spanish-English
programs, and it was planned that the
Yaqui-English programs. now supported
by federal funds, would eventually be
district-funded.
Subsequently, the bord made bilingual
education one of its eminent priorities for
1981-82-"to develop, coordinate and
integrate bilingual-education programs."
But like the rest of the nation. bilingual
education in Tuc!.on is not popular with
everyone.
Many Hispanic parents request that
their children not be placed in bilingual
classes. but be immersed in English. Services should be provided. they say. to aid
the student in making the Spanish-toEnglish transition. not to maintain the
Spanish language.
Paz said bilingual education needs a
full-time public-relations manager to dispel some of the program's myths and
misconceptions.
"That's how I see myself. My major goal
is public relations." Paz said.
Even many school administrators hold
misconceptions, Paz said.
Paz said he plays golf regularly with a
group of Pima County school administrators. Often one will say, "'Stan. what do
you do? Oh. bilingual education. You
didn't ask me, but l think all children
should learn to speak English.'" Paz said.
His r~sponse is, "You didn •task me, but
so do I."'
He believes bilingual education will
gain popularity as the world. becomes
more of a global village. "We will need to
be able to speak other languages to
communicate."
"Spanish is a right-brain-hemisphere
language. emphasi1ing feelings. English is
a left-brain-hemisphere. emphasizing cognitive skills, l>e\'eloping both enriches a
person's intellectual abilities." he said.
The district's department will emphasi1.e teaching all students a second language. Pai said.
The United States as a whole is far
behind the rest of the world. he said. Pa7
recalled a round table discussion on bilingual education se\'en years ago attended
bv educators from around the world.
· "After the discussion about what each
country was doing. ~me man from Afghanistan said. "'It appears to . me the
United States is the queer bird in bilingual
education."'
Page 8-La Voz de _Aztlan-March 18, /982
Chihuahua Road Run
Otto De La Rocha:
Nicaraguan Musician Guitarist
Speakers Update On Nicaragua
and Central America
Sal Mosqueda Community Center
4670 E. Butler
Sunday, March 21, 1982 .7:00 p.m.
$2.50 at the Door
Stop the U.S.
War in
El Salvador,
March on
Oakland Naval
Supply Center
March 27
carpool Info. call
237-2763
Scholarships
Applications for the Third Annual
Chihuahua Road Run· Scholarships are
now available for currently enrolled CSU F
students. The scholarships are in recognition of two deceased employees of the firm
who dedicated their time and knowledge
to the growth of Chihuahua Inc.; Manuel
Gonzales, 31, and Rafael Maciel Jr.. 19.
Each scholarship awarded will be for
$300. Funds are raised for the scholarship~ at the annual Chihuahua Road Run
which is held in June of each year in the
West side of Fresno.
To be eligible for the scholarships all
applicants must meet the following qualifications:
- have completed 60 units before the
Spring 1982 semester;
- be a full-time student- 12 units or
more;
- have a declared major;
- have a minimum 2.5 GPA within their
Major;
- past and present activities will be
considered- submit in narrative form.
The deadline for applying is 5 p.m.,
March 26, 1982. Applications may be
picked up at Tutorial Services, SR3-l 16,
294-3052, and La Raza Studies, SR4-l 16,
294-2848.
Applications for editorships of
Daily Collegian
Hye Sharzhoom
La Voz de Aztlan
·uhuru Na Umoja
.
.
are now available at the A. S. Office in CU 316.
Applications must be returned to the A.S. _
Office
no later than
4:00 p.m. April 23, 1982~
COmadres -y- Compadres
MAPA/MPA
for Education
Endorsement Convention
Dance March 19, 1982
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight
Old Cafeteria
Music by A.T.M. Disco
•
Editor: Pedro Perez
Managing Editor: Lourdes Villarreal
Production Manager: Sandra Castro
Reporters: Julia Benitez, Margarita Martinez, David Duran, Bobby Rodriguez
Production: Larry Banales
Photographer: Pete Valenzuela
La Voz de Aztlan is California State
University Fresno's Chicano Newspaper.
La Voz de Atzlan is located in the Keat:
Campus Building.
Editorials: (209) 294-2486. Letters t<
the editor are welcomed. The newspaper
reserves the right to edit letters.
I
On Saturday March 27, 1982, from 10
a.m. _to 4 p.m. the Fresno chapter of the
Mexican American Political Association
( MAPA) and Mujeres for Political Action
( M PA) will co-sponsor a candidate's
endorsement convention at the Sierra
Vista United Methodist Church meeting
room. located at 4609 E. Illinois Avenue.
According to endorsement committee
co-chairperson Pat Aguirre. the forum is
being used to allow candidates. for the
J un_e 1982 primary elections. an opportun~ty to present their platforms and views
on important issues concerning the Chicano community. Each candidate is scheduled to speak a total of 10 minutes of
which 5 minutes will be directed towards
4uestions from the audience.
"In addition." noted Aguirre. "the
forum will give interested communit\'
members a chance to preYiew the candidate's qualifications and reasons for seeking office. as well as an overview of their
campaign platforms. All interested are
encouraged to at.t end."
.-DE
La Voz Staff Writer
__
--
AZTLAN
Thursday, Marc_h 18, 1982
California State University, Fresno
By Bobby Rodriguez
.,,,,
CCVMC Oppo.se
Sale of VMC
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors
recently elected to spend an additional
$40,000 to $50,000 to look into whether
Va·lley Medical Cente r should be converted into a private non-profit
organization.
The meeting was preceeded by a rally
held at VMC, where about 50 people
gathered to voice their opposition to the
proposed sale of VMC. The Community
Coalition on Valley Medical Center spear
headed the rally and is the driving force
behind the opposition. Spokesman for
CCVMC, Bill Plumb said "They opposed
the sale and conversi on of VMC to a
private, non-profi t organization." He
added that the poor of the community
would not receive adequate care under the
proposed plan.
At the public heari ng other members of
the CCVM C r eiterated Plumb's
sentiments. Others speaking in opposition
included members of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom,
United Black Men of Fresno, Parlier City
Council members , the Fresno-Madera
Medical Society, and Councilman Leonel
Alvarado.
Councilman Alvarado requested that
the Board look carefully at the possible
ramifications involved in the selling of
VMC, which include the medical education the hospital now provides, the 1300
employees whose future at VMC is unsure, the Industrial Development Bonds,
and the Medical needs of Fresno County's
farmworker population.
The Board of Supervisors. however,
elected to go ahead with the County
Administrative Office's recommendation
that it prepare a detailed plan for the
conversion.
What that will mean according to
CCV MC is that the poor residents of the
community will be prevented from receiving medical care. And the cost affects all
residents, not only those individuals denied access to treatment. The County's
policy CCVMC maintains will also limit
pregnant women access to prenatal care.
That means that women with high-risk
conditions will not be able to receive the
monitoring and care that is proven to
prevent disabilities, debilitating diseases,
and infant mortality.
Valley Medical Center is the sole public
county hospital remaining in the Central
San Joaquin Valley, and it is also the
primary institution in the Central Valley
serving the indigent and Medi-Cal population. In addition, it . is a regional
institution in that it is a medical training
facility. Whether VMC remains true to its
state is still to be seen. The administrative
office's findings will be presented to the
Board at another public hearing on July
20 at 2 p.m.
VM C is the sole county
hospital in SJV
Valenzuela: Candidate for Supervisor
By Fernando Quintero
La Vo, Contributing Write r
Frank Valenzuela has been a public
employee for a large part of his life.
Having been a publ ic employee for the
past 26 years. Valenzuela has been a
probation and police officer. served as
mayor of Hollister, and currently, is a
representative for the American Federation of State. County. and Municipal
Employees.
Challenging County Supervisor Harry
Huey, Valenzuela says that Huey does not
represent his own district. "He hasn't done
a thi_ng for 95 percent of the people in his
district," said Valenzuela. "The people on
the West side need representation ."
Commenting on several key issues .
~alen7Uela sat up in his chair a~ his
intense. dark eyes, barely visible through
the dim obscure light of his downtown
office. opened wide with attentiveness .
"I don't think the bilingual ballot was
any of the Board of Supervisors business,"
commented Valenzuela. "Why would they
want to hinder any participation at the
\oting booths?"
"I decided to run for Supervisor because I think I can stop some of the
negativeness perpetrated by the present boardnamely Jeff Reich." said Valenzuela. He
added that he could neutralize and help
eliminate much of the ignorance which
prompted the Board's decision to eliminate the bilingual ballot.
•
On the issue of the proposed downtown
hotel. Valenzuela said that there was
sufficient interest by property owners and
a large number of citizens toat least put it
on the ballot for the local June election.
Calling Huey a "perpetrator for Reagan
Republicanism." Valenzuela clearly
showed his dissention and skepticism
toward the current Reagan administration. "Reagan lives by double standards,"
criticized Valenzuela. "El Salvador stinks
because we're interfering where we
shouldn't. I'm totally against politics that
have money for killing people rather than
helping them ."
'He hasn't done a thing
for 95% of the people in
his district,' said Valenzuela. 'The people on
the Westside need representation.'
:.:::•·····;·.
•
•:•·
:,:/:=::>-·
•. __•
Photo by Pete Valenzuela
Valenzuela believes that much can be
done at the local level to alleviate and
counteract what he feels are detrimental
administrative policies.
Students need more rental housing and
employment opportunities." said Yalenrnela. "I can't overemphasize how much
can be done at the local level to help many
of these and other problems."
Frank Valenzuela candidate for
Supervisor
Page }-La Voz de Aztlan-Mart·h 18, 1982
Letters to the editor
New Admission
Requirements
To the editor:
'
The California State University Board
of Trustees has approved new admission
requirements for the C~l!fornia State
University system. Requmng freshmen
entering the system in 1984 to have completed four years of college-prep~ratory
English and two years of math 1s long
overdue. Far too many college graduates
are leaving the system still unable to write
a simple letter, let alone a well-developed
essay or term paper. Their inability to deal
with math skills such as geometry and
algebra also leaves them ill-prepared for
the jobs that await them.
Some people are protesting the adoption of these new requirements. One of the
complaints is that the requirements will
keep minorities out of college. Because of
poor counseling, discrimination, economic disparity, and a number of other factors, minorities will not be able to prepare
themselves to meet those requirements.
There is no doubt that inequality exists
in our system of education. Discrimin~tion and prejudice have not been eradicated from our society let alone from our
schools. Poverty and other social problems also play a part in determining the
quality of education one receives.
To the editor:
The current trend of political decisions
on education has caused concern among
minority students. Policy changes and
drastic cuts in financial aid has caused
many students to reevaluate the likelihood of a pursuit for higher education.
Among these changes are: The new
entrance requirements to the CSUC system, the proposed state fee hikes, and the
proposed cuts in Federal Financial Aid.
The new entrance requirements would
require students to complete four years of
English and two years of mathematics, the
phasing in period of these requirements
would he in 1984. The requirements are
not the problem, the additional English
and math would benefit the student. The
problem .irises with the phasing in period
of the requirements. The current opinion
of many high school counselors is to overlook the minority student who is not the
above average student and whose thoughts
of going after a college education cannot
be followed because of economic and at
times cultural problems. Many minority
parents cannot afford to send their children to college, and whereas many migrant
parents have themselves never been familiar to education, but rather the main focus
is on getting enough food to feed their
families. the child suffers from not having
parental guidance. Therefore, the numbers that would be lost to the new
requirements can only be guessed at. One
has only to look upon the number of students who now attend State that got in
before them.
The proposed State fee hikes again are
an issue that affect not only minority students but rather all students. The minority
student again is singled out to ·be affected
the hardest. The cooperation of many
students has caused the Governor to
change the cuts from 5 to 2.5 percent. The
issue again being to the minority student
that college is not economically feasible.
The one change that will affect all students is the proposed cuts in Federal
Financial Aid. The people in the White
House are asking for two billion dollars
cut from federally funded programs. The
impact would be so severe that again colleges and universities would be populated
only by the wealthy. Minority students
face on the most serious challenges to
appear in many years.
The new programs and the proposed
changes that are before all students have
put to question, Is higher education a
right or a privilege?
David Duran
A.S. Senator
The solution to these problems. however, does not lie in loosening the entrance
requirements for college. Rather, attention should be given to dealing with these
problems at the elementary, junior high
and high school levels. Teachers, counselors or other school personnel who show
themselves to be unfit can and should be
removed. School policies and regulations
w:hich are discriminatory can be changed .
Efforts should also be made to get parents
more in'(olved with their children's education. Interested groups could provide
translators and / or advisers to accompany
parents to PT A meetings, teacher-parent
conferences, or any other school related
function. Providing tutors to those students who need them would also contri, bute to a more positive learning experience; the suggestions could go on and on.
Perhaps the most important way to
help prepare our students to meet the new
college requirements is to encourage initiative, to teach them to be self-starters.
Too many of our students are going
through school with the idea that they
don't have to work, that somewhere along
the line someone or some program will get
them through to the next step. Not only
do such students then fail to learn the
necessary academic skills_at the proper
time, they also fail to mature to the point
where there is such a thing as personal
responsibility.
Lydia Mendoza
To the editor:
I was pleased to see your story ab?ut
Lydia Mendoza. It shows that there _is a
real function for La Voz de Aztlan since
no other publication on campus has
shown even the slightest interest in the fact
that this legendary and internationally
renowned Chicana artist will be here for
the entire semester.
But your story is far from accurate. Ms.
Mendoza is here as a Resident Folk Artist
in a program which I initiated here in_ 1976
with the cooperation of the National
Endowment for the Arts and CSU F. She
is the fifth RF A, the others having been
specialists in Anglo-Celtic, Afro-American, Southern Appalachian, and Armenian folk traditions. It's important to
emphasize that this is a matching funds
program. which means that CSU F has
been willing to provide its share of funding for these important programs even
though there is a tight economic squeeze.
Even more important is that you neglected to mention that Ms. Mendoza not
only teaches her class on Thursday evenings but is available free of. ch~rge ~o
schools and non-profit organizations 10
the community and neighboring areas.
Again, this is a contributi-0n that C:SUF
makes to the understanding of Chicano
culture in our community and people need
to be aware of that commitment.
Gene Bluestein
Professor of English, CSU F
Director, Resident Folk Artist Program
If people now protesting the new college entrance requirements truly believed
in the capabilities and pbtential of minorities and women, they would not be so
quick to predict the "phasing out" of these
two groups from the college system. And
if they were sincerely interested in the
status of minorities and women in our
society they would be calling for even
stricter academic requirements for our
schools. Quality education can only mean
progress for our society as a whole; for
minorities and women quality education
can mean strength, self-confidence, and
pride- a firm belief that they are just as
capable as anybody else.
The new entrance requirements are not
completely satisfactory. They aren't specific enough as to what these additional
English and math classes will teach.
Nevertheless, they are a step forward in
helping to insure that entering students
can do college-level work . More important, perhaps these requirements will
serve as a challenge for us to go into the
elementary, junior high and high schools
to help our children reach their true
potential. Let us not deny them access to a
college education because the talents and
abilities they have were never discovered
and developed to their fullest.
Sincerely,
Mercedes E. Gonzalez.
Middle East"
and the
"The U.S.
A presentation on "The U.S. and the
Middle East: Comprehensive Peace or
Comprehensive Security?" will be given at
the California State University, Fresno,
on Friday, March 19, 1982, at noon, in the
College Ul!ion Lounge. The speaker is
. Political Science professor, Dr. Naseer H.
Aruri of Southeastern Massachusetts
University.
Dr. Aruri_ has studied and written
extensively on Palestine. the Middle East,
and U.S. relations in the Middle East. He
lectured on more than 70 college campuses on the Middle East since 1968. His
fields of concentration are in comparative
politics. political development, the Middle East and international relations. He
also participated as a vi.s iting professor for
the Poltical Science Department at Kuwait Universi'ty in Kuwait. In 1967. he
received his Ph.D. at the University of
Massachusetts.
Since 1969. Dr.Aruri wrote numerous
articles and books. Some of his publications include: Lebanon: A Challenge to
the Arab World; The Chapter on Syrian
Strategy; Jordan: A Study in Political
Development; 1921-1965; The Palestinian
Resistance to Israel's Occupation.
P .A.S.S. Program'
To the editor:
As many students already know. President Reagan's proposed budget cuts in
educational services will have devastating
effects on the nation's universities. as well
as the students. Among the targets of
massive reductions are programs such as
the P.A.S.S. Program here on cmapus.
Nationally. a total of $5.5 million is
expected to be cut from the Special Services for Disadvantaged Students fund. which
provides services for more than 157.000
students. Under the proposed cuts 16.200
students will be eliminated. In addition.
the Administration is attempting further
reduction and eliminations of various
student financial assistance programs.
What can 0.>u do to help stop these
proposals'?: Write to local legisl~tors.
newspapers. and television and radio stations regarding the effects of the proposed
cuts. Immediate action should be taken
since Congress will decide on the prop?sed projects in late March or early April.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Larry Banales
P.A.S.S.
Clerk
March 18. /982-la Voz de Aztlan-Page 3
Las Adelitas Still
Cracking the Whip
'
It has been said that the strength of a revolution can be judged by
the role women take in it. Millions of Mexican women fought in many
ways during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Countrywomen went
beside their men with children and cooking-gear on their backs. They
took up arms, sometimes disguised as men, and fought on the
battleground; many reached the rank of Colonel. These women,
named Las Adelitas, all saw their own liberation as an integral part of
the 'revolutionary struggle of their people.
ln the fall of 1969 a group of Chicana women joined together on
Fresno State University and formed an organization named after
their ancestors, Las Adelitas. According to Irma Marquez, a CSU F
alumni and organization founder, Las Adelitas was formed during a
"militant period." Because of the Movimiento period here in the U.S.,
Chicanas on campus could easily relate to Las Adelitas of the
Mexican Revolution. The women also adopted the song, La Adelita
as their theme song.
Like all women organizations, Las Adelitas had its criticism from
Chicanos who saw Las Adelitas as a separate identity from the
movimiento. "The men were apprehensive about the organization,"
said Marq_uez. "Because we did many things for the community such
as fun~ra1sers, th~y t~ought we were becoming like a sorority."
According to Aguirre, 1t took the men a while to recognize that the
women were still supporting them.
Las Ade/itas were the
"backpone" of the Fresno food services strike
in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia,
EOP counselor.
Adelitas organization meeting.
The organization began out of a need to educate themselves about
the movimiento. According to Marquez, "The men in M EChA were
not very responsive to our ideas and discussions during M EChA
meetings. We really didn't know enough about the movement; so we
decided to get together once a week to help each other learn more
about the movement."
About 8 to IO women would meet once a week and would hear
reports on different organizations and events involved in the
movement. The women were thus involved in a learning project. Pat
Aguirre, PASS director, said, "Las Adelitas was a training ground to
be able to do something in MEChA."
Chicanas also felt that M EChA was purely political and they had
other needs to be fulfilled. Most of the original members were
education majors, so they met to talk and develop their ideas. The
organization developed a tutoring program for elementary schools.
Some women would volunteer a couple of hours a night to tutor
youngsters. Las Adelitas were actively involved in community '
organization causes. The organization would "throw" big parties,
dances, or food sales to raise money and food for such organizations
as the UFW, MESA, etc. Las Adelitas' primary goals included
assisting Chicanos in the political, social and education aspects of the
community and campaigns. "Community organizations would always
come to us for support of some type," said Aguirre.
By 1971; Las Adelitas was a strong organization with about 30
members. Las Adelitas were the "backbone" of the Fresno food
service strike in March 1971, according to Delma Garcia, EO P
counselor. The Fresno College food services was buying non-union
lettuce and M EChA initiated a boycott against the food services.
While M EChA was handing out literature and educating the people
on the boycott, Las Adelitas were selling food right in front of the
cafeteria. Unfortunately when Las Adelitas began making the food,
the health department restricted them from selling the food. Persevering, Las Adelitas bought products from local restaurants and sold it.
Thus they were able to help make the food service boycott a success.
In 1972 an Adelita, Grace Solis, was chairperson of FSU's protest
against Governor Reagan's failure to include funds for EOP in the
1972-73 state college budget. The protestors camped out on the lawn
next to the Free Speech area.
"Adelitas had a strong reputation throughout the state because of
their involvement and activities," said Garcia.
Las Adelitas through its existence created a sisterhood among
Chicanas on campus. This was partly done by the annual initiation
night which was a time for talking and becoming familiar with one
another. Most of the Adelitas were from rural towns, first child to go
to college, and felt they had no choice but to ban together.
How has being in such an organization helped Chicanas? Pat
Aguirre said that Adelitas has helped in a three-fold manner. First. the
members became comadres. Secondly. the same women involved in
Adelitas went on to be the founders and members of other women
groups such as the League of Mexican American Women and
Mujeres for Political Action. Thirdly, being involved helped to find
each one's individual specialties. Garcia said. "Adelitas gave me a
chance to express myself."
Marquez said. "I learned about women and about myself as a
woman. I know I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the strong
relationships built with members.'' Marquez felt strongly that in
relationships with men, she learned how to deal with men. for prior to
college she knew nothing of "man supremacy." "Had the men accepted
us, I don't think I would have learned as much about life and
relationships," she said.
Las Adelitas hast hroughout the years been involved in the events of
its ~ii:ries. Presently the organization is going through with structural
rev~s1ons and pla~s to continue its involvement with the political.
social, and ~ducat1onal aspects of the campus and community.
_ La_s Adeli~as meets.every Wednesday at noon in the College Union.
for turther mformat10n contact Amelia Cota in La Raza Studies.
Page 4-La Voz de Aztlan-March 18, 1982
EL SALVADOR
_
LocaL groups .prote~t .Politician's positi9.Jl -
Seven)
met with
·-
,
'
-
-
.
.
.
.
Local community groups
eoqJ"eaman Tony Co-
elho and Chip Pashayan to urge ·
their opposition to Unite4 States
involvement in El Salvador.
The groups representatives
found Coelho CD-Merced) to be
somewhat in line with their posi-
tion.
But the meeting with Pashayan
resulted in a picket on George
Washington's birthday a week
later when some 70 persons protested the-Republican lawmaker's
support of US involvement in
El Salvador.
The delegation of representa- tives meeting with congressman
Pashayan included Arturo Vasquez and Phil Trainer of the Latin American Support Committee
(LASC); Connie Peterson and
Jacquelin Pilar of the Women's
International League for Peace
and Freedom (WILPF), Les
ber of United Black Men, Barbara Gaines of the Central Valley
Peace Network, and Sister Celestine Bowens a Dominican nun.
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According to Train~r congressman Pashayan was amazingly
uninformed.
"He didn't know about the
Wall Street Journal.article which
repudiated the validity of the
State Depai:tments white paper,
on El Salvador,'' said T:rainer.
"The white' paper alJeged·Cuban ·
and Nicaraguan involvement in
that conflict."
The delegation also learned
that corigressrnart · Pashayan's
only source of in formation is
limited to informar1on supplied
by the U.S. State Department.
Connie Peterson of WILPF
said ''the State Depar{ment had
evidently never told 'Ch1p' about
the opposition to U.S. interven- :
tion in· El Salvador by the con'7
ference of U.S. Catholic Bishops
or by the Bishop of El Salvador
and he certainly was not very well
informed about the widespread
abuses of human rights or about .
recent massacres by government
troops. "He didn't even know
that U.S. advisors in El Salvador
had been filmed the day before
·carrying Ml6 rifles," Ms. Peterson said.
The community members shocked to learn that the congressman
does not seem to be concerned
about the massive lack of human
rights for the Salvadorean people" said Arturo Vasquez one of
the representatives from LASC.
"He sees the conflict as being
between the Soviet Union and
the U.S. as opposed to arising
out of social and economic conditions."
The members of the delegation
said that congressman Pashayan
could
offer
no
proof
of Soviet, Cuban, or Nicaraguan
involvement in El Salvador but
insisted that our real adversary
there is "The Cuban Bear".
Describing their meeting with
congressman Pashayan to be totally unsatisfactory, the LatinAmerican Support Committee
and Women's International Leaguefor Peace and Freedom callt'for a ·demonstration in front of
his Shields .a nd Blackstone office.
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In addition to the over 70
demonstrators were several "dummies'' which organizers said symbolized the dead and mutilated
bodies found every morning on
the streets of San Salvador.
The picketers chanted "no
·draft, no war, U.S. out of El
Salvador", "Chip, Chip, open
your eyes we don't want genocide", and "shame, shame, Pashayan' s to blame." .
'
_
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~
Other protestors carried signs
saying "no Vietnam in El Salvador", or protesting Pashayans
support of further U.S. intervention in El Salvador.
Representatives of the Latin
American Support Committee
Mike Rhodes and Arturo Vasquez and Connis Peterson &
-
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.
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Marcia McLane of WILPF also
met ·with congressman Tony Coelho on Feb. 12.
Congressman Coelho pointed
out to the group that he is a cosponsor of House Resolution 1509
which would cut off all U.S.
aid to El Salvador, and of House
Joint Resolution 399 which would
According to Vasquez, congressmen Coelho stated that he
has consistently opposed U.S.
intervention in El Salvador, just
as he long opposed the Viet Nam
war when he was congressional
aide to B.F. Sisk.
nuhty Pr~ident Keagan's certification that the Junta has significantly_reduced human rights violations. HJR 399 currently has 87
sponsors.
Arturo Vasquez added "It is ,
important for us to contact our
representatives in Washington
and let them know that we are
opposed to the U.S. aid to the El
Salvador government which has
murdered thousands of its own
citizens, but it is also important
that we show our opposition
through demonstrations and
protests.''
The Committee in solidarity
with the people of El · Salvador
has called for a mass demonstration to be held on March 27. A
blockade of the Naval Supply
Depot in Oakland is scheduled
for this date.
Reprinted from El Tiempo
Ir
~
March 18, /982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 5
Feedback
By Lourdes Villarreal and Pedro Perez
What suggestions would you make to improve tbe
overall quality of the food services on Campus?
John Bull Aborralor: Agriculture/ Graduate Student
"The food itself could be improved, as
f~r as taste and size is concerned. Probably make it a little bit more expensive.
but make the food taste better.
Also. in the evenings, before 7:00, there
is a smaller selecti on at that time because
they feel there are less people on campus.
We have no choice but to buy fries and
hamburgers! They should have Chinese
food and more Mexican food."
Nancy Montes: Criminology /Sophomore
"They should have better health foods.
More vegetables! Different types of cultural foods. The Mexican food here is
lousy! Having Chinese food would be
nice."
Susana Reyes: Business Administration/
Junior
"Better fries! Sometimes they're pretty
soggy! Everything else is pretty good.
They should have less hamburger goods.
Otherwise. 1 like what they have."
:,.
Julio Cesar Gramajo: Pschology/Graduate Student
"First of all. the school population and
the staff and faculty is quite large. We're
talking about. maybe. twentv to twentvtwo thousand people. So. therefore. the
cafeteria doesn't offer a good enough
sen·ice as far as choices is concerned. The
menu is \·ery very limited ."
Eduardo Mora: Industrial Technolo~)'/
Graduatin~ Senior
,.., hey\ e imprO\ cd the ordering proc::ss. But they're quite limited as to the
sdection the students hme. i\ little more
\ ariety \\ ould help. like h,n ing Chinese
rood."
Page 6
La Vo: de .Aztlan
March 18. 1982
M.E.Ch.A •• Building Leaders
By Sylvia Castro
la
\'01
S1aff Wri1er
M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlan ) is more than just a
four-letter word. It is a movement which
has taken the form of an organization to
represent and educate Chicano studen_ts
on campus of current issues on campus, in
the community. national. and international relating to the Chicano cause.
Current M EChA president, Jerry Gonzalez. sees the movement as the major and
continuing objective of the organization
today . Noting back to the origin of the
organirntion in 1969, at a time when the
U.S. wa at war with North Vietnam.
college ·tudents, faculty and staff members bound together in protest over the
gross imbalance of the few minorities in
colleges compared to the numbers on the
front lines in battle. From those protests
derived many of the programs which we
now have today to promote opportunities
for Chicanos wishing to pursue higher
education. Some of those programs which
still exist are the La Raza Studies courses
and the Educati°'nal Opportunity Program (EOP). Gonzalez feels it is MEChA 's
task to "inform and lead them (students)
in the right direction and support others
that believe in their cause."
This task has not always been an easy
one to perform. As the years progressed
and the "fire'' of the late 60's and early 70's
died, on went the pioneers of the Chicano
Movement to pursue careers in the community still promoting the cause. How- .
ever. when the new blood was left to carry
on, they found the boots left behind by
their predecessors too big to fill. Many
had never experienced the struggle which
made it difficult to maintain a large and
active membership. Some had no idea
that their opportunity to attend college
via financial and special admissions programs, were made possible by great sacrifices by the early Mechistas. Sacrifices
which often meant delay in obtaining their
degree or total withdrawal from college to
give the Movement their undivided attention. It's not easy to study when the future
of your brothers', sisters'. and children's
education depends heavily on your efforts.
The leadership and organization itself
suffered many lulls due to the growing
apathy among Chicano students. With
· Reagan in office and the major cutbacks
his administration has proposed, the students of MEChA are becoming aware of
what their early leaders had t_o fight for.
Photo by Pete ·Valenzuela
Last year's president, Lily Martinez,
using her innate powers of speech and
persuasion, lit the "fire" once again, bringing Chicano students on campus together
and making M EChA an acJive working
machine. Membership increased enormously. A feeling of brotherhood among
Chicanos grew and soon all issues whether
on or off campus became of great concern
which often led to action by M EChA. It
also led to much criticism by Chicano
students still deluded in believing they had
done it on their own.
But an organization cannot depend on
one person alone to continue the work
that so many once did. This year M EChA
has a board of directors in which the work
is mutually distributed and shared. However, the bulk of the responsibility still
remains. as always, on the president. This
Perez appointed to
advisory board
Manuel Perez, assistant dean of student
affairs here at FS U, was appointed to the
State Social Services Advisory Board.
The Appointment was made by Gov.
Brown. The board deals with recommending State policies and studies to elected
officials.
Perez said he has always had a long and
continuous interest in policy making, and
through this interest was asked if he'd like
to serve on the board. The appointment is
not final until the state senate has approved it. Perez will be filling the vacancy
left by Sylvia Spencer.
Perez has not been fully briefed on how
the board is conducted, but he said they
meet once a month for two days in
different locations throughout the state.
Perez said he looks forward to developing state policies since they'll have a direct
effect on the people. Perez was a Fresno
Co_unty Probation Officer and a former
director of the E.O.P. Program here on
campus.
year's officers, whom are elected by the
general membership, are: president. Jerry
Gonzalez, vice-president, Rosemary Rodriguez, secretary, Sylvia Castro, Treasurer, Paul Espinosa. and two sergeant-ofarms, John Palafox and John Reyes.
Normally MEChA does not begin a session until the new academic year in the
fall, but once elected to office the board
found it necessary to stay active during the
summer and winter recesses concentrating
on community issues.
Some of M EChA 's past accomplishments and activities include: breakfast for
the U FW Convention in Fresno in September, as monitors in the March For
Jobs and Peace in September, Southwest
Voter Registration Project, supporting
the Bilingual Ballot and boycotting Gottschalk's. presenting the Coor's Boycott
resolution to the Associated Students,
support for the healthworkers strike in
Parlier last year. with other accomplishments.
This year one of MEChA's major projects is obtaining a Chicano Cultural
Center for the organization so that they
may have a work area for themselves.
Gonzalez explained that many times they
have to borrow equipment and space from
La Raza Studies along with other oncampusoffices which interfers with both M EChA's
work as well as the offices they borrow
from. Other current projects are: educating students on the situation in El Salvador, fighting the Reagan cutbacks and fee
increases, and of course. their annual
programs: the Chicano Youth Conference
in January and Semana de la Raza in
May.
Ad Hoc Food
Services Review
After two open hearings in the College
Union where comments were accepted
relative to campus food service operations. the Ad Hoc Food Services Committee had its third closed meeting to review
the information received and plot a course
to correct deficiencies and strengthen the
food service program. Under consideration is a restructuring of the now Food
Services Advisory Committee into a College Union type board empowered to set
policies while working directly with the
campus food services administrator.
Another item under review is a possible
recommendation to the California State
University. Fresno Association. Inc. Board
of Directors for a consultant to be
retained to sur\'ey campus attitudes relative to food costs. quality. and physical
facilities. In addition. the Ad Hoc Committee recommended an automated piece
of equipment known as the Tellu~ ~e
acquired. The equipment when installed 1s
capable of sun·eying customer attitudes at
rnrious locati(1ns throughout the campus.
The Committee expects to complete its
charge and forward recommendations to
the Board by late April of this year.
March 18. 1982-La Voz de Aztlan-Page 7
Billngual Education
Serv·i ce Center
By Maria A. Peralez
La Voz Contributing Writer
Becoming a Bilingual, Bicultural teacher is a long and experiencing career for the
person seeking the credential. After completing four years of under graduate studies, the learning process continues. To
teach Spanish-speaking children English
effectively the educator has to evaluate the
materials and methods being used.
"Different varieties of the language
have their functions and they are equally
important. Home language, whether informal or regional has the important function of strengthening family ties through
communication , and the educator should
respect that form of expression," stated
Dr. Eutimio Topete, director of Bilingual
Education Service Center (BESC). He
went on to say that , standard variety is
important because it facilitates upward
mobility and encourages the speaker to
view its regional variety language as part
of a world language.
Aiding the ch,ild ren in making the Spanish to English transition is a difficult task
that teachers and their aides must be able
to implement in order for that child to
advance according. To help the educator
in accomplishing this , the services BESC
provides a variety of workshops set up by
Dr. Topete where he introduces various
materials and methods to make the transition easier.
The professional staff available through
BESC can prepare educators to provide
quality education for the non-English and
limited English proficient students.
In 1977 Dr. Topete published a series of
bilingual stories, N uestros Cuento ( Our
Stories), that the student can read on his
own or the instructor can read to them in a
group. He said "through these stories an
imaginative teacher can stimulate and
generate langu~ge _from the children."
Using different techniques as the Levenson's Language Experience Approach.
This method enables children to experience language in an enjoyable manner,
by actively participating they get motivated into learning how to read and write.
This is Dr. Topete 's second semester at
CSU F, although his roots are here in California he has taught at other universities.
Aiding the children in
making the Spanish to
English transition is a
difficult task.
He attended the University of Colorado in
Boulder, where he earned his Ph.D. in
education with emphasis in bilingual-multicultural Education and Curricular Social Foundations. Before that he attended
San .Francisco State University where he
rec;eived his masters of art and B. A. degree
in literature and Linguistics.
Dr. Eutemio Topete Director of Bilingual Service Center.
Dr. Topete's native language is Spanish
but is also fluent in English, French, and
Italian. his reason for learning these other
languages was out of necessity and exposure. He was a guide of summer institutions and had the opportunity to tour
South America and Europe.
The most recent of his publications are
"Possible Consequences of Heterogeneous Grouping," and "Recordar es Vivir"
that deals with research in bilingual
history.
Los ·Otividados and Macario, both
award winning films were brought on
campus by Dr. Topete, to expose, and
enhance people. The film Los Olividados
was on how poverty affects children and
Macario dealt with an allegorical tale of
dance. The last of the films being brought
to campus is ... Reeds l nsurgents Mexico" a
true characterization of John Reed's life
during the Mexican Revolution with Pancho Villa, a modern film with clips of old
documentaries. It will show April 21 in the
Old Science building room 16 l at 6:00
p.m., everyone is welcomed, admission is
free.
Bilingual education has everybody talking
By Susan M. Knight
Reprinted from The Arizona Daily Star
"I'm President Reagan, and I am cutting bilingual education because it's too
expensive and it doesn't work. Convince
me I am wrong."
With those words, teacher Ramon
Martinez goaded his sixth-graders at
Davis Bilingual Learning Center last
week.
r
Hands waved furiously for recognition.
David Ruiz, 11, was called to answer.
He stood and said, "Mr. President, you
should take the time to come to our school
and see how good the program has been
for us."
The mock president responded, "But
what about all the kids who are forced to
be bused across town, who have to come
to the barrio to go to school with the
Mexicans?"
Student William Hall, who gets up
early every day to catch a bus to take him
not to his neighborhood school but on a
SO-minute ride to Davis, handled the president with diplomacy. He sto~d and
sighed heavily.
"Mr. Reagan, we come here because we
want to. I think bilingual education and
mixing the cultures is working. It was
hard at first. But the kids from the
extended community are learning Mexicans' qualities, and they are learning some
qualities from the extended community.
We are learning to communicate with
other people," he said.
Where were the cameras? The exchange
between Martinez and his class seemed
more like a well-rehearsed act performed
to promote the idea of magnet schools and
bilingual education than part of a socialstudies lesson on government and economics.
If the enthusiasm of the 27 students in
the class could- be packaged and distributed throughout the city, Stan Paz's job as
director of bilingual education for the
Tucson Unified School District might be a
little easier.
Community support for the district's
bilingual programs has grown substantially since they were started with federal
funds in the early 1970s, ,but board
members and administrators still are
struggling to gain more public support for
the programs.
Bilingual education recently has encountered heavy criticism on a national
level. When the Reagan administration
announced plans to eliminate regulations
that require school districts to use bilingual education as the primary method for
teaching students whose language was not
English, it was stated that the programs
do not work and that children should
learn only English because it is the country's language.
The bilingual method teaches children
in both languages concurrently as proficiency in English and Spanish is acquired.
Proponents say it provides the students
with a strong foundation for learning
skills by using a language they already
know. It also lets Spanish-speaking students gain academic skills at a rate equal
to their English-speaking classmates, giving them a sense of success and positive
self-concept, supporters say.
But opponents believe it unfairly delays
the students' learning of English, the language they are expected to know to function in U.S. society. Critics also say bilingual education supports a pluralistic and
separatist society.
Parents, however.disagreed about which
method should be used to help the Hispanic children overcome the language
barrier. Since then, the district has implemented different methods ranging
from total immersion in English with an
emphasis on phonics to completely bilngual programs. Paz said district parents'
interest in the bilingual programs is now
stronger than in other methods.
After the Reagan administration's comments, district officials committed to bilingual education began digging their heels
in a little deeper, developing more programs and techniques to measure the programs' results. Paz is also working on a
"marketing plan."
The district's emphatic ommitment
came last summer when the Board of
Education voted to make bilingual education a separate, district-supported academic department with Paz as its director.
Federal Title VI I funds no longer were
being received for the Spanish-English
programs, and it was planned that the
Yaqui-English programs. now supported
by federal funds, would eventually be
district-funded.
Subsequently, the bord made bilingual
education one of its eminent priorities for
1981-82-"to develop, coordinate and
integrate bilingual-education programs."
But like the rest of the nation. bilingual
education in Tuc!.on is not popular with
everyone.
Many Hispanic parents request that
their children not be placed in bilingual
classes. but be immersed in English. Services should be provided. they say. to aid
the student in making the Spanish-toEnglish transition. not to maintain the
Spanish language.
Paz said bilingual education needs a
full-time public-relations manager to dispel some of the program's myths and
misconceptions.
"That's how I see myself. My major goal
is public relations." Paz said.
Even many school administrators hold
misconceptions, Paz said.
Paz said he plays golf regularly with a
group of Pima County school administrators. Often one will say, "'Stan. what do
you do? Oh. bilingual education. You
didn't ask me, but l think all children
should learn to speak English.'" Paz said.
His r~sponse is, "You didn •task me, but
so do I."'
He believes bilingual education will
gain popularity as the world. becomes
more of a global village. "We will need to
be able to speak other languages to
communicate."
"Spanish is a right-brain-hemisphere
language. emphasi1ing feelings. English is
a left-brain-hemisphere. emphasizing cognitive skills, l>e\'eloping both enriches a
person's intellectual abilities." he said.
The district's department will emphasi1.e teaching all students a second language. Pai said.
The United States as a whole is far
behind the rest of the world. he said. Pa7
recalled a round table discussion on bilingual education se\'en years ago attended
bv educators from around the world.
· "After the discussion about what each
country was doing. ~me man from Afghanistan said. "'It appears to . me the
United States is the queer bird in bilingual
education."'
Page 8-La Voz de _Aztlan-March 18, /982
Chihuahua Road Run
Otto De La Rocha:
Nicaraguan Musician Guitarist
Speakers Update On Nicaragua
and Central America
Sal Mosqueda Community Center
4670 E. Butler
Sunday, March 21, 1982 .7:00 p.m.
$2.50 at the Door
Stop the U.S.
War in
El Salvador,
March on
Oakland Naval
Supply Center
March 27
carpool Info. call
237-2763
Scholarships
Applications for the Third Annual
Chihuahua Road Run· Scholarships are
now available for currently enrolled CSU F
students. The scholarships are in recognition of two deceased employees of the firm
who dedicated their time and knowledge
to the growth of Chihuahua Inc.; Manuel
Gonzales, 31, and Rafael Maciel Jr.. 19.
Each scholarship awarded will be for
$300. Funds are raised for the scholarship~ at the annual Chihuahua Road Run
which is held in June of each year in the
West side of Fresno.
To be eligible for the scholarships all
applicants must meet the following qualifications:
- have completed 60 units before the
Spring 1982 semester;
- be a full-time student- 12 units or
more;
- have a declared major;
- have a minimum 2.5 GPA within their
Major;
- past and present activities will be
considered- submit in narrative form.
The deadline for applying is 5 p.m.,
March 26, 1982. Applications may be
picked up at Tutorial Services, SR3-l 16,
294-3052, and La Raza Studies, SR4-l 16,
294-2848.
Applications for editorships of
Daily Collegian
Hye Sharzhoom
La Voz de Aztlan
·uhuru Na Umoja
.
.
are now available at the A. S. Office in CU 316.
Applications must be returned to the A.S. _
Office
no later than
4:00 p.m. April 23, 1982~
COmadres -y- Compadres
MAPA/MPA
for Education
Endorsement Convention
Dance March 19, 1982
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight
Old Cafeteria
Music by A.T.M. Disco
•
Editor: Pedro Perez
Managing Editor: Lourdes Villarreal
Production Manager: Sandra Castro
Reporters: Julia Benitez, Margarita Martinez, David Duran, Bobby Rodriguez
Production: Larry Banales
Photographer: Pete Valenzuela
La Voz de Aztlan is California State
University Fresno's Chicano Newspaper.
La Voz de Atzlan is located in the Keat:
Campus Building.
Editorials: (209) 294-2486. Letters t<
the editor are welcomed. The newspaper
reserves the right to edit letters.
I
On Saturday March 27, 1982, from 10
a.m. _to 4 p.m. the Fresno chapter of the
Mexican American Political Association
( MAPA) and Mujeres for Political Action
( M PA) will co-sponsor a candidate's
endorsement convention at the Sierra
Vista United Methodist Church meeting
room. located at 4609 E. Illinois Avenue.
According to endorsement committee
co-chairperson Pat Aguirre. the forum is
being used to allow candidates. for the
J un_e 1982 primary elections. an opportun~ty to present their platforms and views
on important issues concerning the Chicano community. Each candidate is scheduled to speak a total of 10 minutes of
which 5 minutes will be directed towards
4uestions from the audience.
"In addition." noted Aguirre. "the
forum will give interested communit\'
members a chance to preYiew the candidate's qualifications and reasons for seeking office. as well as an overview of their
campaign platforms. All interested are
encouraged to at.t end."