DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Maria Cano Martinez newspaper clippings and interpreter position documentation, 1978-1997 | 1973-09-13 Daily Iowan Article: Chicanos give grievances to university administration"" by Steve Helle

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Maria Cano Martinez newspaper clippings and interpreter position documentation, 1978-1997

1973-09-13 Daily Iowan Article: Chicanos give grievances to university administration"" by Steve Helle

Fengzhao Xu

Chicanos give grievances to university administration

By STEVE HELLE staff writer

Chicano students confronted the University of Iowa administration Wednesday afternoon and presented a list of grievances, the second such confrontation in five months.

The first meeting with UI Pres. Willard Boyd on May 1 was described as "fruitful" by the administration, but Arture Ramirez. Chicano representative, called it a failure, Wednesday's meeting brought similar reactions.

Twenty-five Chicano students met with Philip G. Hubbard, vice president for student services and dean of academic affairs, and once again presented what they term deficiencies in university policies.

Their requests, according to Ramirez and Ben Pintor, resident manager of the Chicano-Indian American Cultural Center, included: 
-More out-of-state recruiting of Chicano students;
-More Chicano students receiving the aid of the special support services program;
-A Chicano member of the support services board with administrative clout, and not just "somebody under somebody under somebody'" said Pintor;
-A Chicano faculty member; and
-A bilingual-bicultural administrative university hospital staff member to assist patients and their families with language hurdles and social needs.
"The administration is merely shifting horizontally," said Ramirez. "They are becoming more informed on the issues but they aren't bending at all."
Ramirez cites in particular the problem of a Spanish-English speaking hospital staff member. He said there is presently a truck driver hospitalized at UI hospitals with burns over 90 per cent of his body. Although he does speak some English, his wife who came along to be with him does not and is having a hard time surviving in a foreign community.
"She is having a hell of a time." said Pintor, "She just can't communicate. We got a call from another woman telling us about how rough a time this lady is having. Something that to be done to handle this situation."
But Hubbard said he is "well aware of the problem. Steps have been take to correct the problem, and the situation well in hand."
Hubbard was referring to the establishment of a "language back" utilizing the resources of Spanish-speaking migrants from the Muscatine area, "We have a list of people who speak various languages and can come to help translate for us."
But Pinter retorted, "By no means is the situation well in hand. The language bank is a fine idea, but it's strictly voluntary and not doing the job. To properly serve the needs, there had to be something more than volunteers-someone within the university to serve these patients."
He said that a woman is working in the hospital who could meet the requirements, but she wouldn't be accepted because she lacks the Bachelor of Arts degree.
"She has helped out when these situations arise, and so have we (the Chicano students). But the question remains: whose responsibility is this? We don't get paid and neither does she. Something has to be done about it."
He raised the issue of recruiting Chicano students from out-of-state. "There has to be a redefinition of priorities in the university's policy of recruiting minority students. You can feel pretty safe that no Indian or Chicano students are going to come here if you don't have the people that identify with them out in the field recruiting them."
Hubbard stated, "We will take Chicanos from the state of Iowa-in fact, we are seeking them. It's the fact that they want us to admit a substantial increase from out-of state which presents a problem.
"Our first priority is Iowa students and we admit those regardless of race. We admit any any-of-state  students too, as long as they meet our qualifications."
He described the program as a "super -counseling agency" fulfilling the needs of the "low-income, educationally handicapped" student. "The program is especially designed to meet the needs of students who have little chance of students who have little chance of success-those who were inadequately prepared for college. They are all low-income students, many from minority groups and some from the Upward Bound program. The program serves financial, academic and counseling need.."
But Pintor answered Hubbard's "lack of money" with "We've heard that before and we don't accept that answer."

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Fengzhao Xu Chicanos give grievances to university administration By STEVE HELLE staff writer Chicano students confronted the University of Iowa administration Wednesday afternoon and presented a list of grievances, the second such confrontation in five months. The first meeting with UI Pres. Willard Boyd on May 1 was described as "fruitful" by the administration, but Arture Ramirez. Chicano representative, called it a failure, Wednesday's meeting brought similar reactions. Twenty-five Chicano students met with Philip G. Hubbard, vice president for student services and dean of academic affairs, and once again presented what they term deficiencies in university policies. Their requests, according to Ramirez and Ben Pintor, resident manager of the Chicano-Indian American Cultural Center, included: -More out-of-state recruiting of Chicano students; -More Chicano students receiving the aid of the special support services program; -A Chicano member of the support services board with administrative clout, and not just "somebody under somebody under somebody'" said Pintor; -A Chicano faculty member; and -A bilingual-bicultural administrative university hospital staff member to assist patients and their families with language hurdles and social needs. "The administration is merely shifting horizontally," said Ramirez. "They are becoming more informed on the issues but they aren't bending at all." Ramirez cites in particular the problem of a Spanish-English speaking hospital staff member. He said there is presently a truck driver hospitalized at UI hospitals with burns over 90 per cent of his body. Although he does speak some English, his wife who came along to be with him does not and is having a hard time surviving in a foreign community. "She is having a hell of a time." said Pintor, "She just can't communicate. We got a call from another woman telling us about how rough a time this lady is having. Something that to be done to handle this situation." But Hubbard said he is "well aware of the problem. Steps have been take to correct the problem, and the situation well in hand." Hubbard was referring to the establishment of a "language back" utilizing the resources of Spanish-speaking migrants from the Muscatine area, "We have a list of people who speak various languages and can come to help translate for us." But Pinter retorted, "By no means is the situation well in hand. The language bank is a fine idea, but it's strictly voluntary and not doing the job. To properly serve the needs, there had to be something more than volunteers-someone within the university to serve these patients." He said that a woman is working in the hospital who could meet the requirements, but she wouldn't be accepted because she lacks the Bachelor of Arts degree. "She has helped out when these situations arise, and so have we (the Chicano students). But the question remains: whose responsibility is this? We don't get paid and neither does she. Something has to be done about it." He raised the issue of recruiting Chicano students from out-of-state. "There has to be a redefinition of priorities in the university's policy of recruiting minority students. You can feel pretty safe that no Indian or Chicano students are going to come here if you don't have the people that identify with them out in the field recruiting them." Hubbard stated, "We will take Chicanos from the state of Iowa-in fact, we are seeking them. It's the fact that they want us to admit a substantial increase from out-of state which presents a problem. "Our first priority is Iowa students and we admit those regardless of race. We admit any any-of-state students too, as long as they meet our qualifications." He described the program as a "super -counseling agency" fulfilling the needs of the "low-income, educationally handicapped" student. "The program is especially designed to meet the needs of students who have little chance of students who have little chance of success-those who were inadequately prepared for college. They are all low-income students, many from minority groups and some from the Upward Bound program. The program serves financial, academic and counseling need.." But Pintor answered Hubbard's "lack of money" with "We've heard that before and we don't accept that answer."