Invest in Latina/o Community at the University of Minnesota

Dear President Eric Kaler, Dean John Coleman, and Directors Maggie Towle and Denny Olsen, The Latina/o community and our allies, on and off of the University of Minnesota campus, are expressing outrage and concern regarding the "Galactic Fiesta" put on by the university that involved students and even the U of M mascot, Goldy, dressing up as stereotypical depictions of Mexicans. The fact that this party was planned and advertised for a significant time period, University resources were utilized to put it on, and it did indeed happen indicate a prime opportunity to address seriously the office of Student Union & Activities' day to day practice of diversity, and the broader University's unfulfilled mission to substantively administer a goal that values diversity. More importantly, it indicates the University’s failure to create a safe environment for Latina/os and other historically marginalized communities on campus. These types of stereotypical depictions of Mexicans and Mexican Americans as monolithic, simplistic and naively festive are rooted in the nineteenth and early 20th century takeover of Mexican land, and led to a mass subordination and racialization of the Mexican-origin population in the U.S. While many changes have come about due to a history of struggle, the Mexican-origin and broader Latina/o community in the U.S. continues to face racism within the immigration debate and systematic social, cultural, educational and economic repression. Today Latina/os hold about $100k less wealth than whites, hold vast disparities in high school and college education, and are much more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts. These and other grim statistics multiply exponentially for Latina women, queer Latina/os and our undocumented brothers and sisters in particular. In this systemically unequal circumstance, a party such as this at an esteemed public institution is gravely disappointing given that depicting Latina/os in a singular, stereotypical, “happy” fashion does the work of continuing and justifying these circumstances. We are encouraged that the Office of Equity and Diversity issued a public statement for the U of M that apologized to the Latina/o community on and off campus because this puts the University in a position to prioritize and, frankly, put money where their mouth is. This apology acknowledges that the party was an injustice, something we agree with the University on, but these words mean little without investment of resources in structural change on campus. Let's be clear: for an explicitly racist party such as this to occur as an OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED UNIVERSITY EVENT using university resources is to indicate a hostile environment for Latina/os and other students of color. Day to day decisions and official policy created the context that was fertile ground for this party to occur. It was not simply a mistake, it was an expression of the way the University is practicing its everyday operations, and is an excellent opportunity to seriously change the structures that exist to create this racially hostile environment. More importantly, it is a call to invest concrete resources into alternative practices and policy that make students of color feel comfortable and safe, provide faculty / staff / and entities to develop curriculum that all students are required to engage in order to understand the concerns and histories of communities of color, and truly invest in the Latina/o and other historically marginalized communities on campus. In light of this, we are happy that the staff and the students involved in this party learned from this event. However, left out of this solution are the existing Latina/o students at the U and Latina/o youth who aspire to go to a university like the U but see this party as an indication of their treatment and the message that they do not belong on a college campus. Therefore, in the shared goal of “doing better,” we have following questions and demands: 1. While we would like to believe that the students and staff at the Student Union and Activities Department who enabled and participated in this "Galactic Fiest" learned from this, we want to further inquire about what was discussed and how are these learning moments going to be incorporated AS POLICY to address this hostile environment and future decision making process after this generation of students leaves and new staff is hired through time. Furthermore, we want a published analysis of THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS THAT LED TO THIS EVENT. Finally we want to see a plan of action that educates the student body on why these events are problematic. 2. Resources must be allocated to fund Latina/o-led student organizations in student activities, and that La Raza Cultural Student Organization be given a permanent office space in Coffman. This party indicates that Latina/os were not part of the planning process nor were they a targeted group to participate in the event itself. In addition to adequately funding Latina/o student groups and other groups representing marginalized communnities, we want to know how resources and policy be redirected and changed to address this PERMANANTLY. 3. Resources must be allocated to hire more people of color in positions of leadership in in the Student Union and Activities unit and the U of M administration. This party occurred with THE APPROVAL OF UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS. It was held on university grounds where staff necessarily witnessed and approved of the on goings there, and university resources were given to promote the "Galactic Fiesta" at least since September of 2014. Please share the dollar amount of resources put into this party. Also, it appears that the entire leadership of the Student Union and Activities is European American. If this is incorrect than please share the correct demographic information of the leadership. If it is correct, then please explain how you will hire faculty of color in proportion to the demographics of the country within the next year. 4. Resources must be allocated to stabilize and invest in the 44-year-old Department of Chicano and Latino Studies who presently has only one untenured faculty member fully-rostered in the department and an underemployed outreach coordinator. Just a few weeks earlier, the dean of CLA decided NOT to replace the only tenured professor in this department who departed in May of 2014. Indeed, this party is a direct result of DECISIONS MADE to underfund and understaff the only departmental unit on campus whose purpose is to focus on, teach, and research this particular community. In this regard, we demand that a tenured professor be hired to replace the previous one, and two additional faculty members be hired to stabilize the department. Also, we expect that the outreach coordinator for this department be fully supported by the university. This request reflects the recommendation by several departments whose expertise lie in studies of diversity to implement an official unit for the study of Race, Indigeneity, Gender and Sexuality (RIGS) and, after stabilizing Chicano and Latino Studies and departures in American Indian Studies and American Studies, implement a cluster hire to capititalize on the faculty and programs that teach students to think critically about the issues that the party reveals is lacking. 5. Resources must be allocated to set off an initiative to double the percentage of Latina/o students on campus within the next 3 years. Further resources would be allocated to do the same for other historically marginalized communities who are underrepresented on campus. The eloquent apology representing the University’s administration was much appreciated. We see it as beginning a dialog and PLAN OF ACTION to assure that the Latina/o community and other communities of color are given the substantive resources and policy initiatives to truly be a part of the university community. The “Galactic Fiesta” revealed to us that this is not yet the case. However, with the above investments we can, indeed, do better. Thank you for your time. We look forward to your prompt response.
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