A coalition of students and Chicano community members has managed to accomplish two of its major goals in delaying the process to select a new director of the Chicano/a Studies program.
The group got the verbal support of nine of the 13 members of the program's steering committee and has been a second presentation scheduled for the position's lone candidate, to take place later in the month.
"I think we are taking steps in the right direction," said David Padilla, a member for the coalition and co-chairman of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztl†n, a campus group also known as MEChA.
About 35 people, including coalition and community members and even local Chicano high school students, crowded into the small conference room at the Chicano/a Studies program Wednesday, to voice their concerns to the steering committee charged with making recommendations to the dean of University College about the director position and any other action that may be taken in the search process.
Steering committee chairman Eduardo Hern†ndez Ch†vez announced at the beginning of the meeting that its purpose was to determine ways in which concerned individuals could submit written and verbal feedback to committee members regarding the search.
The coalition responded with a two-page list of concerns and recommendations for the committee.
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According to the group's letter, the group has concerns about increasing the amount of funding for the program and its instructors, the efforts being made to find a new director and a tenure track requirement that coalition members say prevents Chicanos who have ample experience for the director position from applying.
In a memorandum written by Peter White, dean of University College, and read by Hern†ndez, White insisted that the tenure- track requirement is non-negotiable because that person will have to make personnel decisions and that the tenure requirement will help the program's credibility.
After Hern†ndez read the letter, the coalition and members of the steering committee discussed the current situation of the director search and some ideas and recommendations about improving the program's role at UNM and in the surrounding Chicano community.
Charles Truxillo, Chicano/a program instructor and member of the steering committee, encouraged the coalition to petition state policy makers for increased funds for the department and to not give up in their efforts. He added that the $100,000 the program receives in funding is not nearly enough.
"Fire some of those extra provosts and vice presidents to get more money," Truxillo said.
A common theme expressed by some coalition and committee members was that UNM fails to address its diversity concerns when it fails to properly fund programs that are directly related to diversity.
"Chicano studies should be one of the leading programs in this area," said Felipe Gonzales, associate professor of sociology and a steering committee member. "Chicano Studies is sorely lacking."
Coalition members insisted that it is important for them to have support from the program's faculty, the Chicano community and the members of the steering committee.
Several members of the committee expressed support for the coalition and its goals.
"It is a program of the students," said Michael Candelaria, steering committee member and instructor in the Chicano/a Studies program. "I'm available for any support or mentorship."
In addition to support from committee members, Hern†ndez said it is important for the students to continue their involvement with the program, even after any issues regarding the new director are resolved.
"I encourage the students," Hern†ndez said. "All of us support your efforts, please understand that."
Many committee members said they backed White on his decision to stand firm on the tenure requirement, but some of them, as well as several coalition members, expressed disappointment that he did not attend the steering committee meeting.
Coalition representatives said the group is still split regarding its official stance on the tenure requirement.
Committe members expressed support for the coalition of students and community members' requests to start a new, expanded search for a director and to seek increased funding from the state legislature to improve several components of the program.
"We want this program to have that type of respect," said Rosalie Otero, director of University Honors Program and a steering committee member. "It would be valuable to have tenure faculty in the program."
To achieve that goal of getting faculty in the Chicano/a Studies program on tenure track and to raise awareness of the group's concerns, Truxillo recommended that the coalition members conduct a sit-in at UNM president Chris Garcia's office and that they do not take no for an answer regarding increased funding.
Take advantage of having a Chicano in the position of University president, Truxillo said.
The meeting wrapped up with a suggestion from committee members that the coalition develop a questionnaire to distribute at Dorothy Baca's presentation at 3:30 p.m., Feb 26, in Dane Smith Hall. Baca, head of Design for Performance in the Theatre and Dance Department, has already given one presentation in late January. She reportedly agreed to the second presentation after hearing that a coalition of concerned students and community members had been formed.
Avelina Mart°nez, undergraduate representative for the coalition of concerned Chicanos, said her group will comply with the committee's request and develop the questionnaire to get feedback regarding the upcoming presentation to White and the members of the steering committee.
"We want to open lines of communication between the Raza community, the program, the surrounding community, the members of the search committee and Dean Peter White," Mart°nez said.
She added that she is happy with the progress of the coalition and with the efforts made by the steering committee Wednesday.
Perhaps the most rousing advice expressed during the meeting came from Carlos Cansino, a former UNM master's student.
"Expand, don't let them restrict you," Cansino said. "It's our day, keep on."
Hern†ndez said the next meeting of the steering committee will not be until about a week after Baca's presentation. But, he assured coalition members, the steering committee has a great deal of power in the search process and that is does have the authority to recommend candidates to the dean or to recommend that the entire process be put on hold to obtain more community feedback.
"I feel certain that from what I heard today, the faculty will be responsive to student comment," Hern†ndez said.
