"Just saying you’re going to apply isn’t enough" by Adam Torres, MEChA de Yale, Alum. '06

"Just saying you’re going to apply isn’t enough" By Adam Torres, MEChA de Yale, Alum. '06

It has been approximately one year since I graduated from Yale University with my BA in Sociology and concentration in Political Science. Since graduating, I was hired as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University. Throughout this last year, I’ve been fortunate enough to be the lead officer responsible for Southern California admissions to the University, as well as the face of Yale to countless others. In my tenure, I have read a thousand or so applications, and have seen intimately the process of college admissions at one of the Northeast’s countless prestigious institutions. In my time, what have I come to notice? A lack of Latino applicants.

As an organization, the East Coast Chicano Student Forum aims to devote itself to the recognition and representation of Latinos in Higher Education. We work together to support ourselves and each other as we show not only our colleges and universities, but the rest of the country our presence and progress here in the Northeast United States. We continually speak of our small numbers, though, but show that we, as Latinos, are still formidable and should be acknowledged for our contributions. We also aim to increase our population, not only to build strength for our causes, but also because of our belief in the power of education and what experiences like ours at these wonderful institutions can do for our communities. As result, we work to spread word of our communities in the Northeast to our home communities and those communities similar to ours. And yet, after all we do, we still find that our community at our colleges is small.

Why? The answer to building up numbers does not only lie in making sure people know about us. Yes, indeed, it is an issue to make sure that schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton go to our communities and present these opportunities to more than just the traditional feeders. However, that is only part of the battle. Many young Latinos know about the possibilities. Now the issue is to get them to follow through and put themselves out there before the admissions committees. It isn’t enough to simply get our colleges and universities to visit. We, as invested third parties, must motivate the next generation of college students to apply. We know the process. We know what we did. More importantly, we know what we did NOT do. We must share our experiences, and encourage those we speak with to apply and then be assured that they will follow through. The issue with numbers remains in the last part of the statement. Many of those feel comfortable with our colleges and are often inspired to apply, but at last second, allow fear to keep them from applying. Yes, admission rates are intimidating. Yes, these students will be leaving home and traveling up to three thousand miles to attend school. Yes, there might be a need to pay for the experience. However, more often than not, these high schoolers, and sometimes their parents, teachers, and counselors, do not see that it is an experience worth having. Beyond it all, many discount themselves before the process begins. As such, I, and several others who are dying to see them in the Admissions Committee Room, will never get the opportunity, as this next generation denies itself the same opportunity we work to show them.

To conclude, we must continue what we have started. As an organization, and as individuals invested in a strong Latino presence in higher education, we must continue to hold our colleges and universities accountable to our people. We must feel comfortable enough with the efforts of our respective institutions to not only appeal, but admit, matriculate, and GRADUATE these individuals. Our part, though, must be expanded to include the fact that these same people MUST apply. It is the first step. To say it is not enough.

Life After Graduating From Smith? By Ashley Zurc, Nosotras, Smith College

Life After Graduating From Smith? By Ashley Zurc, Nosotras, Smith College

Sometimes when I look back at my academic career I cannot help but wonder if it was all worth it. Were the late nights spent writing papers that I have since erased from my computer and the agonizing class presentations that would give me anxiety attacks, worth it? Was the last four years of Mami comparing me to her friends’ daughters who have taken a different route and Papi telling me I am going to start life 3-steps backwards because of my loans worth the aggravation of attending Smith College? It took me four years to realize the answer.

Due to so many expectations and pressures, I have only focused on the present and not the future. I currently do not have a job lined up because I did not apply earlier. I decided last minute that I wanted to pursue my dream of attending graduate school, but was only able to apply to one because I didn’t take the GRE. Although I manage a full course load, edit my organization’s newsletter, write a book review every month for a published newsletter, and work at least twenty hours a week, I did not plan for what comes after graduation. If it were up to my mother, I would finalize my engagement and start a family. However, that is not what I want for myself.

Smith College has prepared me for the world; I was just too afraid to begin the transition because it was not what my family wanted. It is difficult to explain to your professors that your mother would actually prefer you to be a stay at home mom and that your dad was upset because he thought his youngest daughter was a lesbian because she chose to go to a women’s college. I really do not care about what others think of me, but I value my parents’ opinions. However, I have realized that I am only going to attain happiness and success if I pursue what I want. If I had focused on the future and my needs, I would not be in such a predicament.

As I get ready to close a chapter in my life, I have realized that my story is far from over. I literally just began to apply for jobs and graduate school can wait. I know I can balance my needs as well as Mami’s. I have been doing it for the past four years. I suggest to juniors getting ready to become seniors to take advantage of the summer or any extra time to really prepare for what you want. It is difficult when you grow up in a traditional Latino/a family to be selfish sometimes, but you have to. Always pursue your dreams because in reality nothing is impossible. I know I will attain mine because my intellectual curiosity will remain with me forever and give me the strength to overcome any barriers.

Photos: ECCSF at Yale By Angelina Calderon, MEChA de Yale

Photos: ECCSF at Yale By Angelina Calderon, MEChA de Yale






*Note: Date on photos is wrong!

Nosotras 25th Anniversary Celebration By Maria Holmes, Nosotras, Smith College

Nosotras 25th Anniversary Celebration By Maria Holmes, Nosotras, Smith College

Nosotras was formed by six Puerto Rican Smith students 25 years ago. Nosotras celebrated its 25th Anniversary last Saturday, March 31, 2006. We invited the original members and creators of Nosotras, as well as Smith Alums that were members of Nosotras. The anniversary consisted of a dinner, a panel about Nosotras, the showing of two films and a party.

The panel led by Eveth Castellanos ‘07, our current Co-Chair, Ana Hebra Flaster ’84, a founding member of Nosotras, and Johanna Gutierrez ’04 discussed the experiences of Latina students at Smith College. It also reflected on the various events and accomplishments of Nosotras over the years.

Nosotras then showed a documentary about immigration issues. Our organization asked for donations at the dinner for the Refugee Advocacy Coalition, that helps support and care for children of deported immigrants. The second film was a documentary by Gutierrez, Las Huellas Que Dejamos: Latinas at Smith College. This film followed the panel, it begins with a segment about Salome Machado, class of 1883, the first known Latina graduate from Smith. It further covered the founding of Nosotras and the struggle to get Latin American classes and space to meet on campus. Gutierrez hoped her documentary would make today’s students “go with it and make their own story.” The showing of the film was phenomenal. It shows how important students in present time should document what they are doing at their colleges, so twenty years from now it will be shown.

The banquet featured food from various countries across Latin America. The meal was prepared by the organizations’ members. By the end of dinner all the food had disappeared, everything was very delicious. The party featured a mix of salsa, merengue, reggeaton, rap, and hip-hop and we had a good turn out. At the end of the night a lot of us were exhausted, but over all we’re happy Nosotras continues strong after 25 years here at Smith.

Org. Report RAZA By Miguel Ceron, Harvard Radcliffe RAZA

Org. Report RAZA By Miguel Ceron, Harvard Radcliffe RAZA

Over the past year, Harvard Radcliffe RAZA has continued its traditions in holding campus-wide events such as our Independence Day Celebration, Dia de los Muertos, Mexican Thanksgiving, Posadas, and Cesar Chavez. These events have become staple celebrations all over campus attracting members from across diverse backgrounds as well as professors and college staff.

Futhermore, our board has also been preparing for our annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo. A tradition since the founding of our organization, this year, the Cinco de Mayo Celebration has been extended to include our celebration of Harvard Radcliffe RAZA's 35 year history. As we plan this large scale event, we have invited RAZA alumni to join us in celebrating the history of one of the oldest cultural organizations on the Harvard Campus.

As we honor the 35 years that our organization has been active on campus, we also look to expand our network, a plan that has been in the works for some years. After hours of archive searching put in by 3 consecutive boards, we have been able to finalize our alumni list and are currently in the process of sending out invitations for our anniversary event. Furthermore, in this same endeavor, we have attached with each invitation a newsletter exhibiting our accomplishments in the past year as well as a few memories from events we have put on.

In the next year, we hope to establish a lasting network that will serve to connect the membership of our club at the college to our founding and devoted alumni for years to come and hope that this project becomes only a first step to the widespread connection of the Harvard RAZA community.

“De Saludos y Adioses” By Mikey Velarde, MEChA de Vassar, Publications Chair

“De Saludos y Adioses” By Mikey Velarde, MEChA de Vassar, Publications Chair

Some would say I was thinner, way back then, when I was elected Publications Chair for E.C.C.S.F. Others would say I’ve definitely gained some weight or put on quite a few pounds. And still, others, probably most, are thinking to themselves, “So, who is this guy again?”

Well, I’m not here to answer that question or discuss my weight. I am only writing this right now because I want to say, “Good bye! Ciao! Te wacho!”—not: “hello.” (That’s for next year!)

I had a very splendid and lonesome tenure this year. Lonesome, in that I received few submissions; splendid, in that what I did receive was excellent… This comes as somewhat of a disappointment, but an expected one.

I knew that it would be difficult to solicit, beg, and then harass people for submissions. We are all in college, and college can be non-stop. Not simply just schoolwork, but work-work, and other sorts of, as the neo-Marxists call it, “immaterial labor.” (I’m being smart—Funny, right?)

So, I very much appreciate the people who did submit. Like I said, not only were they good reads and pretty pictures, but it required a certain amount of precious labor to send them in. There were informative pieces, funny pieces, and sad pieces. There were pictures of friends and of machines. There were words and images created by members of this Forum—this forum: the one I’m currently speaking in—for the members of this forum. And implicit in that is a strange kind of autonomy. (Quien se cree este guey?!)

But it is this autonomy and this cooperation that the blog wants to utilize. Each conference brings with it a rich variety of voices and opinions and hearts; each conference accomplishes something profound: It manages to organize nearly 100 people together for a weekend to discuss issues pertinent to our many peoples, our multitude. It was great to see the engagement of gender, sexuality, and class, and the recognition that there are “others” within us, the “others.” I can only hope we see more of it.

I did not accomplish everything I wanted to with El Sol. But I did what I could, and it’s now time for whoever replaces me to push the newsletter even further. Hopefully, it will be used as a means of connecting people, of distributing information, and of facilitating our future endeavors. It is a simple thing, but it has the capacity to organize with some ease.

And now, I say, “Good bye,” again. Good bye—to all the seniors graduating, never to return (unless you’re Adam Torres), but hopefully never to disconnect with us (unless you’re Adam Torres hahaha); to all my amigas and amigos, all my compañer@s. Thank you to everyone who helped me with El Sol!

Stay close. AND DON’T FORGET TO ORGANIZE FOR MAY DAY!!!

I leave you with these last sad words from the late great Selena!:

“Y es todo lo que me queda de tu amor
solo, fotos y recuerdos”

Paz y grasa,

Mikey Velarde

P.S. This is a pic I took a long time ago, maybe 3-4 years ago: it's of a man in a cape walking near the Food City supermarket off of Alameda Street in El Paso, TX.