One week after storming a reception held for student leaders and University President Lee Bollinger, members of Latinas y Latinos Unidos for Change met with administrators last night to discuss issues concerning Latino/as on campus.
The 12 administrators and four spokespeople for LUCha sat squarely across from each other, seeing eye-to-eye on some issues, but emotionally clashing on others.
"I think this institution is passionately devoted to equality," said Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford.
"I think it takes courage for you to stand up and say it's not fair. We may not always agree on solutions, but I hope to agree on what the end will be," Hartford continued.
Points of contention between the two sides included guaranteed funding for Latino/a organizations, the construction of a Latino/a cultural center, and the creation of a Latino/a studies department.
"A Latino cultural center would be somewhere students, staff and faculty could go and feel comfortable for meetings (and) office space," said RC senior Nora Salas. "It would be a place where we have academic resources that are Latino specific. The idea of having somewhere to go is the guiding principle."
Dean of Students Royster Harper said although she agreed a facility was necessary to foster multiculturalism, she did not think that ethnic-specific cultural centers are the solution.
"When you come to the University, you are a part of everywhere," Harper said. "I am concerned that separate spaces will not allow us to make all the space available to everyone."
LUCha members also demanded the administrators grant guaranteed funding for Latino/a organizations, similar to the $35,000 that the Black Student Union is guaranteed every year.
The three-hour meeting closed with tension between the two sides, when LUCha members demanded the administrators sign a statement of intent, which would require the administrators to issue monthly progress reports on their efforts to "end the oppression of Latino/a students at the University."
After Bollinger refused to sign the statement, calling it unacceptable, LUCha members decided to suspend talks.
"You have a perfect opportunity; you have people assembled here on a Thursday night to work with you," Bollinger said. "They have offered you sympathy and want to help you, and you turn around and demand they sign a document, holding them hostage. This is counterproductive."
LSA sophomore Diana Derige said the administrators' refusal to sign the statement showed a lack of commitment to Latino/a issues.
"The meeting for LUCha was a success, but for the administration it was a setback by not signing the contract," Derige said. "They set the impression that they were paying LUCha lip service."
LUCha member Wilson Valentina said if LUCha's 16 demands are not met, the movement would continue.
"We will have LUCha I, II, III, IV," Valentina said making reference to the three Black Action Movements that formed at the University in the past. "We will continue. We are willing to continue actions as we did last Thursday. We are united; we have the power to do that."
Bollinger said he was impressed by the arguments presented.
"I thought the students were quite impressive," Bollinger said. "I'm sorry they've reached the conclusion they didn't want to talk further."
JOHN KRAFT/Daily
LUCha members sat down yesterday to talk with University President Lee Bollinger and other administrators about latino/a issues on campus.