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El Laberinto, 1971-1987

e.L.: What did you do besides teach at Indiana?

LEAL: Besides completing my PhD. I helped develop the Chicano-Riqueno Studies department there. I worked with Dr. Luis Davila, who is a fantastic man. Last year the department offered nine courses. That's what I'd like to see here at Iowa. It's one of my long-range goals. Chicano studies depend on one important factor, however, and that is student input. I think it can be accomplished, though. By Chicano studies I mean establishing a whole program, a university department with its own office and own budget. That way we can look after ourselves. That is critical too . . . Chicano studies are important. We have a diversity of students, most with different majors. 
Both Chicanos and Native Americans shouldn't lose sight of cultural realities. The loss of this vision will have long-range impact. To lose it is to become detatched from your enviroment. Trees without roots, that sort of thing.

e.L.: What would your role be in establishing such a program?

LEAL: There would be a lot to do. I do like to teach. Teaching is one of my strong points. As a graduate student I taught 21 hours worth of classes,n ot only in the Chicano-Riqueno Studies program. I wasn't a teaching assistant, either. I gained a lot of experienceand now feel my classes offer a different kind of educational experience. I have studied Paulo Freire's works and believe in his problem-posing concept of education; it's part of my teaching philosophy. To me, each class is a collective effort of people moving toward some end. There are no teachers or students in my classes; I'm the facilitator, though we are all participants.

e.L.: You're the assistant director, now. To some you may appear to be spreading yourself too thin - administrator, recruiter, and instructor.

LEAL: There are priorities, of course. We have to firmly establish our recruiting program, first of all. The (cultural) center is a strength, overall. It's good to have a casa, and having a resident manager is an asset I'd like to see kept. It all works as a base for the student union. There is also the administrative back-up for the student here, although I do feel the counseling facilities need to be improved. Leo Fields, the new director of academic services has some ideas in that area.I would have to say then the priorities would be recruiting and counseling.

e.L: In your interview when applying for this position you expressed a familiarity with the midwest Chicano, yet you were raised in Laredo. Can you explain what you meant?

LEAL: Some argue that historically speaking the Tejanos have been subjected to the greatest repression which as made Tejanos very vocal. Others claim that Chicanos in the Midwest are less vocal. However, my feelings are that a Chicano is a Chicano regardless of the region from which they come. Regionalism should not keep us from unity. La causa lives where there are Chicanos, and there are Chicanos in all fifty states.

[Photo caption]
Ray Leal

9

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e.L.: What did you do besides teach at Indiana? LEAL: Besides completing my PhD. I helped develop the Chicano-Riqueno Studies department there. I worked with Dr. Luis Davila, who is a fantastic man. Last year the department offered nine courses. That's what I'd like to see here at Iowa. It's one of my long-range goals. Chicano studies depend on one important factor, however, and that is student input. I think it can be accomplished, though. By Chicano studies I mean establishing a whole program, a university department with its own office and own budget. That way we can look after ourselves. That is critical too . . . Chicano studies are important. We have a diversity of students, most with different majors. Both Chicanos and Native Americans shouldn't lose sight of cultural realities. The loss of this vision will have long-range impact. To lose it is to become detatched from your enviroment. Trees without roots, that sort of thing. e.L.: What would your role be in establishing such a program? LEAL: There would be a lot to do. I do like to teach. Teaching is one of my strong points. As a graduate student I taught 21 hours worth of classes,n ot only in the Chicano-Riqueno Studies program. I wasn't a teaching assistant, either. I gained a lot of experienceand now feel my classes offer a different kind of educational experience. I have studied Paulo Freire's works and believe in his problem-posing concept of education; it's part of my teaching philosophy. To me, each class is a collective effort of people moving toward some end. There are no teachers or students in my classes; I'm the facilitator, though we are all participants. e.L.: You're the assistant director, now. To some you may appear to be spreading yourself too thin - administrator, recruiter, and instructor. LEAL: There are priorities, of course. We have to firmly establish our recruiting program, first of all. The (cultural) center is a strength, overall. It's good to have a casa, and having a resident manager is an asset I'd like to see kept. It all works as a base for the student union. There is also the administrative back-up for the student here, although I do feel the counseling facilities need to be improved. Leo Fields, the new director of academic services has some ideas in that area.I would have to say then the priorities would be recruiting and counseling. e.L: In your interview when applying for this position you expressed a familiarity with the midwest Chicano, yet you were raised in Laredo. Can you explain what you meant? LEAL: Some argue that historically speaking the Tejanos have been subjected to the greatest repression which as made Tejanos very vocal. Others claim that Chicanos in the Midwest are less vocal. However, my feelings are that a Chicano is a Chicano regardless of the region from which they come. Regionalism should not keep us from unity. La causa lives where there are Chicanos, and there are Chicanos in all fifty states. [Photo caption] Ray Leal 9