CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Media arts freshman Daniela Moreno holds a photo of CŽsar Ch‡vez during a march before the dedication ceremony of the CŽsar E. Ch‡vez building. Organizers led a march from Old Main to the Administration building and back to the CŽsar E. Ch‡vez building.

Building name change honors civil rights leader CŽsar E. Ch‡vez

Hundreds of people rallied on campus yesterday afternoon to support and celebrate the renaming of the Economics building, now the CŽsar E. Ch‡vez building.

Ch‡vez was a Yuma-born leader of Chicano civil rights and founder of United Farm Workers, a national labor union for exploited farm workers from California.

Supporters gathered in front of Old Main holding red and black balloons and "Viva La Raza" signs and began a celebration march up the Mall while singing songs.

At the Administration building, President Peter Likins joined the march, and the procession marched back to the building where the formal dedication ceremony was held.

"We're honoring the man, but, more than anything, we're honoring what he stood for," said Socorro Carrizosa, director of Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs and leader of the campaign for the name change.

"There is no doubt that the greatest leader for the Hispanic people has been and continues to be CŽsar Ch‡vez," said Antonio Estrada, director and professor of Mexican-American studies. "Ch‡vez's name continues to embody justice and civil rights."

Also attending the dedication ceremony was Richard Ch‡vez, brother of the late rights activist, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and the deans of both the College of Humanities and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

"Today, this is not about icon politics. Today is about the history of our people, and the struggle of our people," Grijalva said from a podium in front of the new Ch‡vez building. "He insisted early on that we not be relegated to anything less than equals."

Richard Ch‡vez spoke about his and his brother's humble beginnings, and said their mother, a Tucson native, would never have believed that one of her sons would one day have a building named after him.

ADAM BAKER/Arizona Daily Wildcat Socorro Charrizosa, director of Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs, left, and UA President, Peter Likins, stand next to the new sign in front of the former Economics building. The Economics building was formally rededicated as the CŽsar E. Ch‡vez building on Sunday.

"CŽsar remains a controversial person, but he always said you can never be afraid to rock the boat. You can never be afraid to question the status quo," Ch‡vez said.

Ed Donnerstein, dean of the UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, announced that his college is working toward a doctorate program in Mexican-American studies that he believes will establish the department, which is housed in the Ch‡vez building, as the best in the nation.

Chuck Tatum, dean of the UA College of Humanities, said that his college has established several new scholarships in CŽsar Ch‡vez's name.

"We need to use the symbolism of the naming of the building to galvanize us to action," Tatum said.

Speaking on behalf of the UA chapter of MEChA, a Chicano student organization, Nathan Olivares-Giles said the ceremony is a proud occasion for Chicanos.

"This is a proud day because our university has chosen to celebrate Ch‡vez as an American hero," said Olivares-Giles, an undeclared freshman. "Having Ch‡vez's name on this building gives us pride in our culture."

Tanya Alvarez, an art teacher at the CŽsar Ch‡vez Middle School in Tucson, brought many of her students to witness the dedication ceremony and participate in the celebration march.

"(Ch‡vez) is so important as a role model for our students. He gives them a positive self-identity. He's an American hero, and there's not too many that are Mexican-American," Alvarez said.

The ceremony also attracted many Ch‡vez supporters from all around the Tucson community.

"This is the first time they've named a building here after a Mexican-American. It shows that there are a lot of supporters of the Hispanic community," said Horacio Gonzalez, a local resident.

The Student Objectivist Society was also on hand at the ceremony to quietly protest the Ch‡vez dedication with signs. Members distributed literature on tables to the far left of the ceremony.

Their organization views Ch‡vez as a union boss who used coercive tactics to force workers into joining his union and was otherwise disruptive to the free market.

"A couple of people came by and said they agree with us, and a couple came by and said they didn't agree with us," said Erik Flesch, geosciences senior and SOS president. "There were a few people who wanted to have a debate, and there was a couple of people who were just shouting at me."