President's Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs meeting minutes

Title

President's Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs meeting minutes

Description

This document is the minutes from the first meeting of the Presidents Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs. The minutes reflect the ongoing discussion of Chicano education and Chicano educators at the University. These minutes were written down by Marta Hernandez, secretary of the committee (click on thumbnail to enlarge image).

Source

RG05, Archives and Special Collections, UNL Libraries

Date

1971, Jul. 30

Original Format

paper

Text

President’s Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs

Minutes of Meeting
July 30, 1971

The first meeting of the new President’s Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs was held at 4:00 p.m. on July 30, 1971. The following people were in attendance: President Joseph Soshnik, Rev. Robert Navarro, Dean John Robinson, Professor Michael Meyer, Dean Magrath, Marie Diaz, Simon Orta, Ben Salazar, Ralph Grajeda, Salvador Buruato, Rod Hernandez, Joe Aguilar, and Marta Hernandez.

President Soshnik and Rev. Navarro guided the meeting until a Chairman was selected.

Rev. Navarro gave some background information pertaining to the initial TTT meeting which set up the Advisory Committee and ten recommendations to incorporate within the duties of that committee.

Simon Orta was elected Chairman unanimously of the President’s Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs. Marie Diaz was elected Vice-Chairman and Marta Hernandez, Secretary.

Each recommendation made by the Task Force IV was reviewed by the committee members. Dean Robinson spoke on the emphasis of academic programs concerning Chicano culture and history. It was stated that two sections of English 1 and 2 (Freshman English) dealing with Chicano authors would be offered this fall semester of 1971. One section would be exclusively Chicanos and another mixed. As of now a non-Chicano instructor will teach the course.

There would also be a probability that in the second semester of the next school session o History of Mexico and the Southwest would be initiated. It was also hoped that a Spanish language course could be started the second semester taught by a Chicano or an instructor well aware of the Chicano language. This course would be offered to Chicanos exclusively.

Discussion followed concerning the difficulty of finding a Chicano Instructor for English and possibly History. Some of the discussion led to the possibility of a secondary school transfer (a teacher that had taught high school).

It was hoped that by 1972 some Chicanos would be on the full-time staff of instructors – mainly dealing with ethnic studies. Three or four specialists or consultants were hoped to be found to work in coordination of Arts and Sciences and Teachers Colleges. They would need a terminal degree to quality. One of these consultants would be Black and one Chicano. It would also be hoped that Chicano experience in America could be initiated (like Black Experience in America) as well as an Indian course similar to this. Dean Egbert is active in getting this project under way. There is now an American Indian dealing in the ethnic studies and a Black in literature so that there would be a total of six once the staff was set up.

It was stated that the Chancellor may be brought in from time to time for inter-campus affairs.

Dean Egbert would be working with #3 of the recommendations and using the assistance of TTT. Joe Aguilar was also interested in working in this area.

Ralph Grajeda would be starting as Coordinator of Mexican-American Cultural Program in September.

Joe Aguilar would also be interested in working with the Steering Committed on early education for Mexican-American children and the endorsement of a COP program proposal for Mexican-Americans in western Nebraska.

The Committed was lost in the area concerning number 5 of the recommendations for the incorporation of the special service counseling division into the regular University budget for the 1971-73 biennium. This was due to the lack of funds and no additional resources. Ed Guerra would be working in connection of the Talent Search Program which is federally funded.

The recruitment of more Mexican-American faculty members could not be initiated at this time because there is a lack of funds.

Some views were expressed in connection with the delay in hiring the Chicano counselor. So far to date Olga Tappe has been selected to fulfill the position.

It was requested that funds for transportation purposes be made available on a continuing basis. There had been a $500 fund set up for this.

The meeting was closed at 6:00 p.m. The next meeting date will be the second week in September.

Marta Hernandez
Secretary

Files

Pres_Comm_MexAmer_aff_minutes_1971 (p1)_edited-1.jpg
Pres_Comm_MexAmer_aff_minutes_1971 (p2)_edited-1.jpg

Citation

“President's Advisory Committee on Mexican-American Affairs meeting minutes,” Nebraska U, accessed March 28, 2024, https://unlhistory.unl.edu/items/show/342.

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