Panel discusses challenges facing Hispanics
Taniah Tudor
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
Prominent Latinos from the surrounding area discussed challenges facing Hispanics in the U.S. and Northwest Arkansas at the Multicultural Center in the Student Union Monday.
Health, availability of services, economics, education, cultural and language barriers, documentation status, civil rights, and exploitation were all issues mentioned at the panel discussion.
The discussion was the opening event for Hispanic Heritage Month and began with a proclamation by Carter Ford, president of the Associated Student Government, announcing the celebration of HHM on campus.
"I, Carter Ford…declare the month of Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2008, as HHM among the student body of the UA, and I encourage all students for seize the opportunity to celebrate the many contributions made by the Hispanic population to the state of Arkansas and to the United States of America…" he said.
Javier Ortiz, multicultural communications and community relations manager for Tyson Foods and president of the League of United Latin American Citizens 758, moderated the panel discussion.
"The idea is to create an open dialogue with all the people who are present," Ortiz said, "that could encourage people in engaging in and participating in these very, very important issues as we celebrate this HHM."
Ortiz directed questions to individuals of the panel according to their area of expertise.
Ana Aguayo, a UA junior and the deputy director for women on the state committee for LULAC, discussed problems of education from a student's perspective, including tuition and a cultural difference in the importance placed on education.
Margarita Solorzano, executive director for the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas, spoke on education systems and the obstacles facing parents of students.
"Another struggle that I think we face, especially right now at the UA, is the increase in tuition," Aguayo said. "For those students who don't have the privilege to be born in this country … to obtain a college education is becoming a dream that is out of reach."
Health, availability of services, economics, education, cultural and language barriers, documentation status, civil rights, and exploitation were all issues mentioned at the panel discussion.
The discussion was the opening event for Hispanic Heritage Month and began with a proclamation by Carter Ford, president of the Associated Student Government, announcing the celebration of HHM on campus.
"I, Carter Ford…declare the month of Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2008, as HHM among the student body of the UA, and I encourage all students for seize the opportunity to celebrate the many contributions made by the Hispanic population to the state of Arkansas and to the United States of America…" he said.
Javier Ortiz, multicultural communications and community relations manager for Tyson Foods and president of the League of United Latin American Citizens 758, moderated the panel discussion.
"The idea is to create an open dialogue with all the people who are present," Ortiz said, "that could encourage people in engaging in and participating in these very, very important issues as we celebrate this HHM."
Ortiz directed questions to individuals of the panel according to their area of expertise.
Ana Aguayo, a UA junior and the deputy director for women on the state committee for LULAC, discussed problems of education from a student's perspective, including tuition and a cultural difference in the importance placed on education.
Margarita Solorzano, executive director for the Hispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas, spoke on education systems and the obstacles facing parents of students.
"Another struggle that I think we face, especially right now at the UA, is the increase in tuition," Aguayo said. "For those students who don't have the privilege to be born in this country … to obtain a college education is becoming a dream that is out of reach."
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