1996_10 The Daily Collegian October 1996

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Friday October 25,1996
PageS
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ofsponsorship
Due to ASI budget cuts, the.Chicano Youth
Conference is in need of sponsorship from
faculty.
The mainpufposeof CYC is to make Chicano
students feel that college is accessible to them.
In past years, the CYC has been fully funded
through the ASI, with costs totalling about
$5,000.
Historically, the CYC has brought youth
from throughout California onto the campus
in order to expose them to a college
atmosphere.
However, this year the CYC was only
granted $900, which cannot be allocated
towards the traditional lunch granted to
participating students.
In the past 23 years, the CYC has never
charged participating students.
With your help, that tradition can continue.
Each student lunch will cost approximately
$2.00 each.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring students
or would like more information, please contact
Jeanette Loaiza at 225-5825 or via email at J1392
or Marylou Ramirez at 230-1590 or at mgrl3.
Oye Como Va
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By David John Chavez
La Voz Assistant Editor
It is ridiculous to think a few
people can put something in view
for all to see that is so vile and
hateful, and then wonder what all
the fuss is about.
I am speaking about the picture
of the African-American man with
a swastika on his arm, holding up
his right hand in heil Hitler type of
pose, which sat in last year's
Legislative Vice President's office.
Did anyone take a second to
understand how this might offend
people?
It was very obvious that those
who decided to display this picture
either did not think or did no.t care
about how this may hurt someone.
That is why I had to question the
little disclaimer set forth by ASI
Director-At-Large Tammi
Martinez (Daily Collegian, Sept.
30).
What the hell was that all about?
"As a Mexican-American woman,
I have seen firsthand the type of
prejudices and hatred which
permeate our society."
Give me a break!
Is this the same lammi Martinez »
who lambasted United Farm
Workers labor leader Cesar Chavez
in a criminology class I had with
her? Oh wow, if this is not a blatant
case of perpetrating a fraud, then I
don't know what is.
Martinez could make Snow
White look Chicana.
In the two and a half years that I
have been a student at this
university, it was the first time I
have ever heard Martinez advertise
her brownhood. And oh, how
convenient a time to drop the
bomb; when the racist insults
started flying in. It was used like
some superhuman shield she just
whipped          out: "Stop!
L—.liwyo—am—.uh, Mexican?"
Was she going for the dramatic
movie effect? You know, the one
when a woman walks in the jungle,
and before she is attacked, says
she is one of them. ^
What was she expecting, all of
us to look at each other, say 'unga-
bunga,' and go touch her arm?
La Voz
dc Aztlan
Though Martinez' words were
foolish, it is a metaphor for a much
bigger problem. Using culture and
skin color when it is convenient
plagues our society everyday. We
see it in everything we do. Need a
scholarship? Check the box that
says Hispanic. Financial aid?
They'll always give financial aid
to Mexicans.
Just the other day, I watched
former Cleveland Brown football
star and current civil rights activist
Jim Brown on a sports talk show.
He blasted O.J. Simpson for
leaning on his African-American
roots only when he needed to.
"That was obvious," he said.
Being a person of color is a pride
we should live with, day in and
day out.
Whether we know a Mexican
person who graduates from
college, or one that is being sent to
jail, that pride should never leave.
Cultural pride varies for
everyone. Frankly, it doesn't
matter how we go about obtaining
it. Just as long as it is consistent
day in and day out.
Senorita Martinez, do us all a
favor: Leave the pride of being a
Mexican to those of us who are
proud of that fact everyday, not
just on the days when the going
gets tough.
Speaking of our friendly,
neighborhood ASI senate, it is
appalling to think that the Chicano
Youth Conference was allocated a
measly $900 to operate with in this
year's proposed budget.
Considering the storied history
of this event, you would think the.
conference would be worthy of a
lot more.
Now, the conference committee
is forced to ask for donations to try
and provide the youths with a day
on a college campus and a free
sandwich.
The message seems to be this:
Maybe if us Mexicans just shut up
and take it, the ASI senators might
kick down a couple of jugs of water.
You know, so these kids have
something to wash their sandwich
down with.
Editor in Chief
Christina Gomez
Assistant Editor
David John Chavez
Photographer
Angelica Velazquez
Cartoonist
Miguel Vega
Staff
Caryn Carrasco
Lizette Jenness
Aaron Castaneda
George Silva
Olivia Vasquez
La Voz de Aztlin is published by Chicano
students for the Chicano community.
Contributions, ideas and Letters to the Edi¬
tor can be directed to the newspaper office
located in the Keats Campus Building, Fresno
California 93740-0042.
Opinions published are not necessarily those
of the ASI, The Daily Collegian or the La Voz
staff. Unsigned editorials represent the major¬
ity opinion of La Voz's editorial board.
The editor reserves the right to edit letters for
length and clarity. La Voz de Aztlin is pub¬
lished by the Associated Students.