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El Laberinto, 1971-1987
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GREETINGS FROM THE MANAGER (CIACC) I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the students who have taken time out from busy schedules to visit the center. I would also like to express some of my concerns about the center and invite comments and suggestions from those who have been hesitant to drop by and see what we are all about. I urge everyone to stop and take advantage of the facilities that are available to you. "La Casa" has been in exixtence since 1972. It was during these years that students were stimulated by political and social activism that spilled over from the sixties. Much good came from the efforts of these students (now the center's alumni) because they took pride in not only what they were doing, but in who they were as Chicano and Indian students here at the university. It seems that those days are behind us now, but we have been left with an organization that was entrusted with the responsibility and duty to keep that spirit alive. We have survived those days of moral crises, but there remains other issues that affect us, as students, and our people, who look to us for a sign that there may be hope for the future. I would also like to thank the members of the Chicano-Indian American Student Union, Los Bailadores Zapatista, and a special thanks to the students who are on staff for their time and efforts put forward here at the center. Again I urge all Chicano, Indian, and Hispanic students here on campus to stop by. Although we may have diverse interests, we still share many commonalities. I know that we will continue to show those who have doubts about Chicanos, Indians, and Hispanics, that we are here, and through our talents and perseverance we have much to contribute to this society. -David Merchan * * * (Editor's note: The following thoughts belong alongside the CIACC Manager's message as a mecessary description of the way things are with us today.) In 1972, chicano and American Indian students requested and were given by the UI a cultural center where they could meet and carry out activities. Originally, the Chicano-Indian American Cultural Center, or "la casa," as it's been called, was located at 115 North Clinton Street on the main frag of the University. At that time, the center was the focus of a lot of activity and discussion concerning La Causa Chicano and the American Indian Movement. Despite the fact that only a handful fo Chicano and Indian students were on campus then, a lot of important cultural work by students was accomplished. The first major Chicano and an Indian conferences in Iowa took place here. The UFW Boycott and Wounded Knee struggle as well were brought to Iowa City. With the cultural center as the focus around which to gather and struggle---coming at the height of the cultural, social, and political revolution that began in the sixties-- Chicano and American Indian students help lay the foundation for much important activity in the future. Before, during, and after this time in which the cultural center was established, the Chicano-Indian American Student Union had been carrying out the activities students developed shortly after the union was born in 1970. The student union created "projects"--which at the time were not funded by the UI Student Senate--such as the newsletter, preschool. teatro, prison visitation. and many more. The Genaro Vasquez Preschool, for example--named after a contemporary Mexican revolutionary who carried on education work among the poor in Guerrero, Mexico--was conceived as an alternative to the monolingual, monocultural education system in this country and conducted classes for Chicanitos both in Spanish and English with the philosophy of Chicanismo as its approach. All of the union projects were conceived of as part of El Movimiento and underscored the basic recognition of brotherhood and struggle. There was truly a collective spirit of bringing about radical change, and a humanistic attitude connected with that idea of change. In the fall of 1973, the UI moved the site of the cultural center after the 115 North Clinton house was designated for razing. Students claimed that the univer- wanted to get Chicano and Indian students "out of sight, out of mind" be-
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GREETINGS FROM THE MANAGER (CIACC) I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the students who have taken time out from busy schedules to visit the center. I would also like to express some of my concerns about the center and invite comments and suggestions from those who have been hesitant to drop by and see what we are all about. I urge everyone to stop and take advantage of the facilities that are available to you. "La Casa" has been in exixtence since 1972. It was during these years that students were stimulated by political and social activism that spilled over from the sixties. Much good came from the efforts of these students (now the center's alumni) because they took pride in not only what they were doing, but in who they were as Chicano and Indian students here at the university. It seems that those days are behind us now, but we have been left with an organization that was entrusted with the responsibility and duty to keep that spirit alive. We have survived those days of moral crises, but there remains other issues that affect us, as students, and our people, who look to us for a sign that there may be hope for the future. I would also like to thank the members of the Chicano-Indian American Student Union, Los Bailadores Zapatista, and a special thanks to the students who are on staff for their time and efforts put forward here at the center. Again I urge all Chicano, Indian, and Hispanic students here on campus to stop by. Although we may have diverse interests, we still share many commonalities. I know that we will continue to show those who have doubts about Chicanos, Indians, and Hispanics, that we are here, and through our talents and perseverance we have much to contribute to this society. -David Merchan * * * (Editor's note: The following thoughts belong alongside the CIACC Manager's message as a mecessary description of the way things are with us today.) In 1972, chicano and American Indian students requested and were given by the UI a cultural center where they could meet and carry out activities. Originally, the Chicano-Indian American Cultural Center, or "la casa," as it's been called, was located at 115 North Clinton Street on the main frag of the University. At that time, the center was the focus of a lot of activity and discussion concerning La Causa Chicano and the American Indian Movement. Despite the fact that only a handful fo Chicano and Indian students were on campus then, a lot of important cultural work by students was accomplished. The first major Chicano and an Indian conferences in Iowa took place here. The UFW Boycott and Wounded Knee struggle as well were brought to Iowa City. With the cultural center as the focus around which to gather and struggle---coming at the height of the cultural, social, and political revolution that began in the sixties-- Chicano and American Indian students help lay the foundation for much important activity in the future. Before, during, and after this time in which the cultural center was established, the Chicano-Indian American Student Union had been carrying out the activities students developed shortly after the union was born in 1970. The student union created "projects"--which at the time were not funded by the UI Student Senate--such as the newsletter, preschool. teatro, prison visitation. and many more. The Genaro Vasquez Preschool, for example--named after a contemporary Mexican revolutionary who carried on education work among the poor in Guerrero, Mexico--was conceived as an alternative to the monolingual, monocultural education system in this country and conducted classes for Chicanitos both in Spanish and English with the philosophy of Chicanismo as its approach. All of the union projects were conceived of as part of El Movimiento and underscored the basic recognition of brotherhood and struggle. There was truly a collective spirit of bringing about radical change, and a humanistic attitude connected with that idea of change. In the fall of 1973, the UI moved the site of the cultural center after the 115 North Clinton house was designated for razing. Students claimed that the univer- wanted to get Chicano and Indian students "out of sight, out of mind" be-
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