M.E.Ch.A.
Important Dates!
Tuesday Nights: Every other tuesday: general body meetings and Eboard meetings. Trips with Border Angels/Migrant Outreach on sundays as well upon request.
March 31 Mecha Nominations
April 7 Mecha Elections @ 8:00pm
M.E.Ch.A. Eboard
Co-Chair |
Gigi Garcia |
garcia-09@sandiego.edu |
Co-Chair |
Elyana Delgado |
elyana-09@sandiego.edu |
Secretary |
Daniella Baldeon |
dbaldeon-11@sandiego.edu |
Treasurer |
Adriana Villasenor |
adriana-09@sandiego.edu |
Publicity/Historian |
Lorena Hernandez |
lorena.hernandez-11@sandiego.edu |
Community Outreach/Central |
Valerie Lizarraga Jonathan Gluchowski |
vlizarraga-09@sandiego.edu jonathang-10@sandiego.edu |
MRB Rep |
Miguel Klee |
kleem-11@sandiego.edu |
UFLC Rep |
Karla Vaquerano |
karla-09@sandiego.edu |
Senate Rep |
Vacant
|
Fall 2008
September - Latino Heritage Month
M.E.Ch.A. with the help of the United Front Multicultural Center erected a modern day border between Guadalupe Hall and Maher Hall to depict the real life tragedy that the U.S./Mexico border really is. Images such as American and Mexican national flags and candles served to illustrate the unity that should be created between the two countries as neighbors. The fence was decorated with national data such as facts about deaths and border militarization. People stopped to notice a fence in the middle of the walkway, some admiring the artwork and some reading the harsh truth regarding "border security".
Wednesday, September 17
Screening of "Made in LA" on
Time: 7pm
Location: Hahn University Center, Forum B
"Made in LA" is a documentary which "follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from a mega-trendy clothing retailer. In intimate verite style, "Made in L.A." reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, "Made in L.A." is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice."
Click here to download the Made in L.A. flyer
Sponsored by: AChA, MEChA, Associated Students, Ethnic Studies and Sociology Faculty, and the United Front Multicultural Center, in celebration of Latino Heritage Month
Thursday, October 9
Social Issues Conference Opens with Artists and Activist
The 19th annual Social Issues Conference, “Inspiring Social Change through Education,” opened Tuesday evening with a program featuring the performance group In Lak Ech and a talk by Border Angels founder Enrique Morones ’02, in the Hahn University Center.
A diverse audience of students, faculty and even one member of the national Minutemen organization was on hand for the artistic Mujeres de Maiz performance by the all-female group In Lak Ech and heard Morones speak about activism, his organization and a need for immigration reform.
In Lak Ech is a Mayan concept meaning “you are my other me — tu eres mi otro yo.” The one-hour performance featured spoken word, singing, chanting and the six women performed while hitting a large drum in unison on stage. It was a passionate display that spoke to the audience.
“I really liked the performance and I think it’s something we do need on campus,” said Elyana Delgado, a senior and a member of MEChA. “It’s really different than other presentations we usually see here. It involves many cultures, not just the Mexican culture or Chicano culture, but it brought it back to the Native American culture in the U.S., the indigenous culture and that of other Latin America countries.”
Following the performance, Morones, who earned a master’s degree in executive leadership at USD, quickly demonstrated why he’s garnered national attention for defending the migrant community on issues such as immigration, opposition to California’s Proposition 187, Operation Gatekeeper, North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and HR 4437. He founded Border Angels in 1986, with a primary goal of preventing deaths of migrants by providing gallons of drinking water at stations located in the Imperial Valley desert areas, San Diego County mountains and areas near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The number of reported deaths of people trying to cross the border is 4,500, but Morones estimates the true number closer to 10,000, or “two to three dying each day,” since the border wall was built in 1994.
“When you hear 10,000 deaths, that’s 10,000 human beings, with 20,000 parents. There are brothers and sisters dying every day,” Morones said. “Ten thousand deaths? That’s not what we’re all about. It’s a very sad situation.”
The Border Angels’ efforts have influenced many people, including several in the USD community, to join Morones and his group on their frequent trips to these water stations.
“I thought it was great,” said senior Gigi Garcia, a member of MEChA. She and other students volunteered with Border Angels in September, placing water at the stations. “I’m very inspired by Mr. Morones and the work that he does.”
The immigration issue has been pushed into the background as a main presidential topic because of U.S. economy woes, but Morones and others continue to push for a humane solution. Morones has met both current U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.
To his critics who view people crossing the border as lawbreakers, Morales notes, “They’ll say ‘why not just come in legally? They should just get in line.’ There is no line, but there is a lot of ignorance. What we need to do is let people know that there is no line. If you’re poor you cannot get into this country through the front door. When Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty were built, people used it as a place to check in, not to say ‘OK, you get in, but you don’t.’ We don’t have that anymore. Now we have a situation where the people are saying if we don’t qualify or don’t have enough money, you don’t get into this country. However, we do need your work. We do need you in the fields, in construction and the service industry. It’s survival of the fittest. If you can go through the desert and live, we’ll give you a job. Well, that’s wrong. That’s immoral.”
Morones said a Gallup poll revealed 67 percent of the people in the U.S. do support humane and comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. And, he adds, that doesn’t mean the other 33 percent don’t support it.
“Most favor a type of immigration reform. The reform we’re talking about is when you come into this country and you check in. If you’re a criminal, you don’t come in — you go to jail. The comprehensive part is for the 12 million undocumented people who are here now to give them a pathway to legalization. There’s no line for that right now. They just want something saying I’m undocumented, but that I don’t have to freak out if the police is behind me and I get pulled over that I’m going to get deported. I don’t have to freak out when there’s a knock at the door at 3 a.m. and I’m going to be separated from family. These are human beings. The law needs to be changed. There’s a double standard here. A lot of times we have to do the moral thing, which might not necessarily be the law.”
Co-sponsored by the Trans-Border Institute and the Social Issues Committee, the program was part of a continuing Latino Heritage Month celebration organized by Associated Students, United Front Multicultural Center, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) and Association of Chicana Activists (AChA).
For more information about the Social Issues Conference, go to Community Service-Learning
To learn more about Border Angels, go to Border Angels.
For more on In Lak Ech, go to their site.
Wednesday, October 22-23
Screening of " Children in No Man's Land" with filmaker
Location: Manchester Conference Center: Room 206 A&B
Time: Reception: 5PM,
Film/Speakers: 6-8pm
Featured Speakers: Director & Producer: Anayansi Prado
Derechos Humanos Arizona Program Director: Kat Rodriguez
Thursday, November 6
Keynote Speaker Sal Castro: A noted L.A. high school teacher depicted in the film "Walk Out" who encouraged students to protest against unequal conditions in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools and demand higher quality education and improved school conditions. Mr. Casto shared his knowledge on the importance of higher education in underprivileged communites and the history of Education in the Nation!
Friday, December 12
Virgen de Guadalupe Mass
Time: 4:30pm
Location: Dinner (Main Dining), Mass(Immaculatta)
Year after year, USD Mecha hosts the traditional Virgen de Guadalupe Mass which brings together students, faculty, staff and the local community in celebration of the Virgen. The event consists a traditional Mexican dinner held at Main dining followed by an aztec dance performance, and finally mass at the Immaculatta. Student volunteers reinacted the story of the appiration of the Virgen to Juan Diego.
Spring 2009
Friday, March 26
ME@ USD, M.E.Ch.A. and many other organizations participated in hosting high school seniors who were admitted to USD. In our efforts to recruit and retain students of color, the volunteers encouraged the high schoolers and gave them advice regarding financial aid, applications and college life.
Friday, March 27
Salsa Night! 3rd Annual Salsa Night was a great success! Live band; Charlie Chavez y su Afrotruco resonated sounds of the caribbean while DJ Jonny G filled in with Salsa Lessons and varying songs. The food was provided thanks to Andres Restaurant and JV's in the Linda Vista area.
April
Fair Labor Week ( Solidarity amongst Workers and Students)
To download the Fair Labor Week flyer click here
April 15
Film Screening of Maquilapolis: City of Factories
Maquilapolis follows the story of two women who work in a sweatshop that produces electronics for an American corporation. The movie will be followed by a short discussion.
We will have food for our guests!
Time: 7:00 pm.
Location: TBA
April 16
USD College Libertarians vs. Students for a Sweat Free Campus DEBATE. The debate on the issue of sweatshops will be a great opportunity for all of us to have an open space for
discussion on a topic that is often ignored among consumers.
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Serra 204
April 16
Honduran Worker Panel: The Workers' Stories on Labor Exploitation. We are fortunate to have workers from a factory in Honduras come and speak about issues around worker solidarity, workers rights, sweatshop conditions, and development. Our guests are the union leaders from the Jerseys factory in Honduras (who were fired for unionizing) and they will be speaking about their experience and what their future holds for them.
Time: 8:00pm
Location: TBA
Sunday May 10 TBA
Noche de Atole
Saturday, May 23
Chicano/a Latino/a Graduate Recognition Ceremony
