A conference for Latino Heritage Month was held October 12 to discuss the state of Latinos in the USA. Each speaker, a specialist in their fields, included JoCasta Zamarripa, candidate for the 8th Assembly District, Mike Rosen, Economics instructor and President of the MATC Teachers’ Union, Antrop- Gonzalez, Associate Professor at UW-Milwaukee, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de La Frontera, and Tony Baez, Director of the Spanish Center. The panel discussed many issues and problems facing Latino immigrants. According to the panel, quality education is one of the most pressing problems facing the Latino community.
There are many reasons as to why, like how their cultural identity is not properly reflected in the school system and according to Pablo Muirhead, a foreign language instructor, another reason among them is “the push out rate vs. the drop out rate in the education system.” He commented on the institutional problems and biases that exist in society, where they are not expected to do well and how that directly affects the rates of success.
When asked how we could rectify the situation, he offered that there is a need for fair immigration reform.
Specifically the Dream Act, which would allow for the children of undocumented workers to study at our schools at the in-state rate instead of the out-of-state rate.
This is because more often than not, these children are brought here at very young ages by no will of their own and are “as American as anyone else, but later learned that they are not legal and therefore cannot finish school.” According to Muirhead, this in turn only adds to the drop out rate.
There is also the issue known as the Social Services myth, where there is a complaint that Latino immigrants take away jobs from Americans while reaping in benefits from schools and hospitals without paying in.
This myth, touched on by the panel as well as Muirhead, is said to be untrue. They claim the reality is that the Latino worker takes on jobs that the typical educated American would not want, such as crop picker or janitor.
They also state that the undocumented worker pays into Social Security and never collects. Muirhead closes by saying, “Whenever there is an economic downturn people look for a scapegoat and they are using immigrants as a smokescreen.
Lunch with a rhythm. A salsa band called “The Mix” provided unique Latin sounds on the 3rd floor cafeteria in the S-Building. LSO sponsored Latino Heritage Month which provided discussions, workshops, and music on campus. (Bob Hanson)
