1997_08 The Daily Collegian August 1997

              La Voz de Aztlan
Chicano history
August 25,1997    Page 5
Editor's Note:
The following articles are from
the year 1969 through 1970 and
were printed in the Daily Collegian,
Insight and La Voz de Aztlan.
This is a glimpse into • the
struggles that have cut through the
history of the Chicano Students
who attended California State Uni¬
versity. Fresno. Without their will¬
ingness to sacrifice we would hot
be here. Let us take a few minutes
and read about their quest to bet¬
ter life for all of us on this campus.
And tdxeflect and carry on the fight
to better the lives of the next gen¬
eration of brothers and sisters who
will come after us. We must not take
for granted what the first Chicanos
did so we can make our dream of
an education come true.
MECHA Members Regrets
Endorsement of Student Leaders
By Leo Gallegos
La VozdeAztldn
1970
MECHA members during the
past student body elections believed
that election of the president student
body administration of President
Phil Sherwood and Vice Presidents
Dave Collins and Chuck Deveau
would be in the best interest of the
minorities on campus. Thus,
MECHA proceeded to endorse
these three candidates.
Guess what? Change?
No change, just a little more so¬
phistication in their rhetoric. But,
friends, it all add up to the same
thing-a rip-off on crucial issues,
such as giviruf the students associa¬
tion back the funds we requested
from money that was intended for
EOP students in the first place.
The Canona of Journalism will
not permit mc to write what I felt
in the gut when I was told a stu¬
dent made the motion to give the
EOP Office only half the funds,
when they know that our gracious
Gov. Reagan has cut the life out of
our program.
This writer must admit that he
also fell for the past campaign
rhetoric and would, at this same
time, humbly apologize to all his
chicano brothers for convincing
them to work for the election of this
so-called liberal trio.
One thing I can say about the
past student body administration,
and is that we knew where we were
at. And "at" meant 15 hard rounds
of student politicking to attain some
of our requests. Thrs time, we were
Ko'cd by a sneak rabbit punch
called liberalism halfway through
the fight. I recommend to my Chi¬
cano brothers and sisters that wc go
back into sincere, dedicated train¬
ing, because the liberal KO punch
can be as devastating as the outright
conservative punch, and, in some
cases, more so because it is tougher
to figure out where it is Coming
from.
I must admit that I was hoping
wc could spend this year working
entirely on academic success, but I
call out to Chicano student lead¬
ers and potential leaders to donate
some of their time in dealing with
campus politics, because, as in the
past , we must be in better shape
just to survive.
Violation Of Basic
Journalism Creed
The action taken by the Senate
Board on Publications in granting
the extension of the Black and Chi¬
cano issues of the Daily Collegian
for an indefinite time is a clear vio¬
lation of a basic creed in journal¬
ism.
The creed in question involves
the "Canons of Journalism." These
canons appearing in the board's
Manual of Procedures were estab¬
lished as guidelines to be followed
by the association in direction of
student publication-the Daily Col¬
legian.
The "Canons of Journalism"
were adopted by the American So¬
ciety of Newspaper Editors and
emphasized guidelines for college
newspapers.     .     *     '
Among the policies outlined in
the creed were the responsibility of
the newspaper in serving its read¬
ers; reiteration of the freedom of the
press doctrine; a call for the publi¬
cation to be independent of all ob¬
ligations expect those which are vi¬
tal to public interest; to exercise
good faith with their readers; and
observe fairness and decency stan*
dards.
These points are what journal¬
ism is all about. Young journalists
are taught these standards from the
first day they declare their Intent to
study journalism.
Some hold this creed as if it were
"The Ten Commandments." In a
sense it is the commandments of the
journalism profession. Some feel
these points are overemphasized
and outdated. Otherscan mold these
standards to fit (heir particular be¬
liefs.
If the board feels the minority
issues'are good and should continue
they should either eliminate this
creed from its policy or uphold it.
Its bad policy to do one thing and
state in another its policy.
Specific violations of the "Can¬
ons of Journalism" are:
1. "Promotion of any private in¬
terest contrary to the general wel¬
fare, for whatever reason, is not
compatible with honest journal¬
ism." There's the violation. How
can anyone after one semester of
board's present policy-granting
Monday issues to cultural groups-
say it is not violation.
If Monday issues is not aimed
at promoting a certain cause or
aimed at promoting a special cul¬
tural group why did a Monday is¬
sue of the Collegian run one full
page story printed in Spanish? If
you cannot read Spanish how can
it be aimed at you? If you are black
and brown man's cause is not pro¬
moted in every Monday's issue,
pray tell last week's board meeting,
stated the issues were aimed at their
people and not the whites.
2. "Partisanship in editorial
comment which knowingly departs
from the truth docs violence to best
spirit of American journalism; in
the news columns it is subversive
of a fundamental principle of the
profession." In no way are the edi¬
torials of Gerald Merrell to be con¬
demned. He has written some poi
gnant ones which deserve praise.
It is the second part of the state¬
ment about partisanship in news
columns which deserves condem¬
nation. An honest attempt is being
made, but some have not been too
objective. Sometimes it is accept¬
able, but when it happens over and
over it is time it was cleared up. In
no way can the news in the minor¬
ity issues be distinguished from the
editorial page.
3. "Sound practice makes clear
distinction between news reports
and expressions of opinion. News
reports should be free from opin
ion or bias of any kind." That point
does not need to be interpreted, it
is self-explanatory.
If the Board of Publications can
in all honesty claim the publication
called The Daily Collegian, as it
now exists, does not violate these
principles, ten the board is truly ig¬
norant of the "Canons of Journal¬
ism." The least the board can be
willing to do is admit error in in
terpretalion. If they are willing to
do that they should remove the
"Canons of Journalism" from
policy guidelines so this creed will
not in anyway be connected with
what the board thinks is "journal
ism."
Brian Eggert
Insight 1970	
Chicanos On
Hunger Protest
By S. Mohan
Insight March 4, l»fb
est as
As a protest against the oppres¬
sion of Chicanopeople, 13 Chicano
students and faculty at Fresno State
College, declared themselves on a
six-day hunger shfke which started
at b PM. Sunday. March I. They
are camped on the lawn.
The strike, a nonviolent protest
undertaken by K men and 5 women
beside the south door of the Tho¬
mas Administration Building, will
last until noon March 6.
A statement issued by La Raza
office on March 2, said the strike
has been called because this insti¬
tution is a symbol of the Anglo "bet¬
ter way of life."
"Specifically," the statement
said, "The protest is against the sup¬
pressive tactics of the Falk-Fike re¬
gime and in support of the younge^
Chicano brothers at Woodlakc High
School near Visaha, and the Chi¬
cano parents and families of Kings
County who have been refused the
right Iq cat."
The FSC administration, in an
immediate reaction Monday, stated.
"The demands cover a number of
complex situations outside the con¬
trol of fhc local campus which must
be researched before and response
is made."
The press release said. "A re¬
sponse to the demands will be made,
however, in due time "
In conjunction with the hunger
strike, the following ten demands
have been presented to FSC Admin¬
istration:
1. That FSC admit 500 Chicano
EOP students in Fall. 1970;
2. That the job of Assistant to
the Dean Of Students be continued
after June 1. 1970 and be filled by
a Chicano;
3. That Adan Juarez continue as
Assistant to the Director Of Finan¬
cial Aids after June. 1970;
4. That FSC immediately create
a Minority Education Council in
consultation with the Ethic Studies
staff and students;
5. That FSC make a three year
plan to increase the enrollment of
Chicanos equal to the population of
the FSC service area;
6. That FSC Administration and
Ethic Studies staff and students
have a discussion in front of the
news media in order to clarify false
accusations and issues at FSC;
7. That FSC immediately in¬
crease its number of support staff
workers to match the population of
its service area;
8. That FSC allocate eight new
faculty positions to La Raza Stud¬
ied for Fall. 1970. and that any
present stall members who wish to
stay at FSC be rehired;
9 That FSC immediately hire a
Chicano at Admissions or
Registrar's office;
10. That FSC immediately hire
a Chicano co-director tor the Edu¬
cational Opportunities Program.
Recently an UFWOC picker in Florida was shot and killed Last Fri¬
day, Domulio Dominguez Avalas. a 21-year-old farmworker was shpt
and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent.
The Merced County Sheriff's Office claims the shooting, which oc¬
curred near Livingston, was necessary because Avalos attacked the agent
Eight witnesses deny the attack.
Cesar Chavez has accused the U.S. Border Patrol of "an organized
program of visiting union crews at those few ranches where we have
contracts to harass our members by singling them out for special investi¬
gation and embarrassment-and Friday a death by violence."
Many questions still have to be cleared up by intensive investigation.
Our question is this: How many more lives will unionizing efforts cost
La VozdeAztldn1970
Chicano Version of Creation " "?£***
All people throughout history have had different legends about the
origin of mankind. Here is one that you might not have heard.
In the beginning, when God decided lo invent human beings He found
that there was no recipe. So he had to experiment.
He formed the first man out of clay and put him in the oven. Since, he
had never made any before and since he was impatient to see what his
creatures would look-hke. He pulled him out too soon The creature came
out white, practically raw
"I shall try again." God said
The next one he left loo long and he got overdone Even his hair
crinkled. But God noticed a definite improvement "I shall tr\ again."
God said." But this time I know just him long "
God timed this one as best he could (there were no ovens with timers
in those days). And sure enough, he pulled out this beautiful, golden brown .
creature
"Ah-ha." said God. "Perfection through experimentation I shall call
him Chicano'" And ChhJ was happy
But God was also worried, for he knew how the raw one and the over¬
done one would regard his bcautilul creature
"Be careful." CmkI told the Chicano. 'because the others arc going to
be jealous of you They will try to copy you tin the tan and hair.
"The white ones," God continued, "you'll have to watch out for They're
mostly composed of gall (unmitigated gall, to be exact). After all. what
do you,expect of the first experiment?"