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Latino-Native American Cultural Center newspaper clippings, 1972-1988
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Chicanos protest at dedication Allege UI discrimination By BILL ROEMERMAN Staff Writer Chicanos, protesting what they termed the "gross neglect" shown by the University of Iowa toward Chicano people, protested on the Pentacrest today, and made a brief appearance at the dedication ceremonies for the new Basic Science Building. The protest, which remained peaceful, began at 2 p.m. in front of Jessup Hall with approximately 18 persons forming a picket line, and carrying signs demanding an end to alleged university discrimination against Chicanos. After about 45 minutes the protest moved to the Union where protesters hoped to be able to confront Gov. Robert Ray, UI Pres. Willard Boyd, and members of the Board of Regents with a list of demands. Boyd and members of the Regents were at the Union for the dedication ceremony. Ray was scheduled to be present, but didn't appear. The protestors sat quietly through the dedication ceremony, but when it was over, one of the protesters stepped to the microphone and made a statement to the departing guests about the lack of Chicano medical and professional students at UI. According to leaflets distributed by the protestors, their demands included intensive recruitment of Chicano students, faculty and advisors, an effort by university departments to become "sensitized" to Chicano needs, and removal of non-United Farm Workers lettuce from UI cafeterias and dining services. The leaflet also stated the protesters "feel the UI is a major contributor to the oppression and educational genocide of La Raza (the people). The leaflet also contends that while there are 35,000 Chicano residents in Iowa, UI has only 69 Chicano students and no Chicano faculty members. Ben Pintor, A3, E136 Currier, one of the protestors, said he is disappointed with the efforts of the UI administration to attract Chicanos, and provide them with relevant courses. "Whose responsibility is it to do these things," he said, "it shouldn't be ours, but we're out here doing it." Pintor said the UI needs to reorder its priorities. "We went to the history department and asked for a course in Chicano history," he said, "but were told there is not money for expansion, yet there is enough money to teach a course in medieval Chinese history." Sidney V. James, chairman of the UI history department, acknowledged that he had been approached by representatives of the Chicano community, and asked to institute such a course, but said his budget wouldn't permit it. "I'm entirely sympathetic to their requests," James said. "This is a topic that is very sensitive for those involved." James said that while the history department does offer some courses dealing with the Chicano role in history, no course offered by the department could be construed to be structured around the history of Chicanos themselves. Phillip G. Hubbard, UI vice-president and dean of Continued on page two (Same date as dedication of UI Basic Sciences Bldg.)
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Chicanos protest at dedication Allege UI discrimination By BILL ROEMERMAN Staff Writer Chicanos, protesting what they termed the "gross neglect" shown by the University of Iowa toward Chicano people, protested on the Pentacrest today, and made a brief appearance at the dedication ceremonies for the new Basic Science Building. The protest, which remained peaceful, began at 2 p.m. in front of Jessup Hall with approximately 18 persons forming a picket line, and carrying signs demanding an end to alleged university discrimination against Chicanos. After about 45 minutes the protest moved to the Union where protesters hoped to be able to confront Gov. Robert Ray, UI Pres. Willard Boyd, and members of the Board of Regents with a list of demands. Boyd and members of the Regents were at the Union for the dedication ceremony. Ray was scheduled to be present, but didn't appear. The protestors sat quietly through the dedication ceremony, but when it was over, one of the protesters stepped to the microphone and made a statement to the departing guests about the lack of Chicano medical and professional students at UI. According to leaflets distributed by the protestors, their demands included intensive recruitment of Chicano students, faculty and advisors, an effort by university departments to become "sensitized" to Chicano needs, and removal of non-United Farm Workers lettuce from UI cafeterias and dining services. The leaflet also stated the protesters "feel the UI is a major contributor to the oppression and educational genocide of La Raza (the people). The leaflet also contends that while there are 35,000 Chicano residents in Iowa, UI has only 69 Chicano students and no Chicano faculty members. Ben Pintor, A3, E136 Currier, one of the protestors, said he is disappointed with the efforts of the UI administration to attract Chicanos, and provide them with relevant courses. "Whose responsibility is it to do these things," he said, "it shouldn't be ours, but we're out here doing it." Pintor said the UI needs to reorder its priorities. "We went to the history department and asked for a course in Chicano history," he said, "but were told there is not money for expansion, yet there is enough money to teach a course in medieval Chinese history." Sidney V. James, chairman of the UI history department, acknowledged that he had been approached by representatives of the Chicano community, and asked to institute such a course, but said his budget wouldn't permit it. "I'm entirely sympathetic to their requests," James said. "This is a topic that is very sensitive for those involved." James said that while the history department does offer some courses dealing with the Chicano role in history, no course offered by the department could be construed to be structured around the history of Chicanos themselves. Phillip G. Hubbard, UI vice-president and dean of Continued on page two (Same date as dedication of UI Basic Sciences Bldg.)
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