Founding of UNM Chicano Studies Focus of Event

Former UNM students who founded the University of New Mexico’s Chicano Studies Program will reflect on the struggle to create a voice for Chicano students at UNM in the 60s and 70s. The multimedia event will be held at the South Broadway Cultural Center on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 7-8:30 p.m. and it is free and open to the public.

The event includes a video show of photos and headlines from the era; showing of the epic movie “Yo Soy Joaquín;” displays of original artwork and posters; live music of protest songs from the Chicano civil rights struggle of the 60s and 70s; and short recollections of the struggle by former UNM Chicano students.

The program is sponsored by the City of Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department Lo Maduro de la Cultura series; UNM’s Center for Regional Studies and the Center of Southwest Culture Inc.

UNM’s Chicano students created the United Mexican American Students (UMAS) to agitate for creation of the Chicano Studies Program. In addition, UMAS students helped UNM Physical Plant workers successfully unionize to overcome a century of discrimination; worked to support the grape boycott of the United Farm Workers Union; participated in anti-Vietnam rallies; created high education recruitment centers in barrios across Albuquerque; and were one of the few ethnic groups to participate in the first Earth Day in 1970.

For more information, please contact Arturo Sandoval or Chuy Martinez at 247-2729 or 768-3531.

Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu