UA activist group takes struggle to TUSD

"For 30 years we've been struggling to get Chicano studies in this school," said Alexandro Escamilla, a political science junior and member of Movimiento Estudiantāl Chicano de Aztlán, or MEChA.

"The surest way to destroy the self-esteem of a people is through putting down their culture, making them feel less worthy," he added.

This was MEChA's message to members of the Tucson Unified School District board who also listened to high school students, parents and teachers voice their opinions about integrating Chicano and bilingual programs into the district's curriculum. The district estimates its Hispanic enrollment at 53 percent.

The 5:30 p.m. meeting at Tucson High Magnet School, 400 N. Second Ave., was the third meeting about this issue. School board members will decide the fate of the proposed program at their Nov. 18 meeting.

The proposal on the table last night would require all TUSD students to take a multicultural studies class, thus bumping their credit requirement from 20 to 22 units.

"We want to get the message out that MEChA is a connection from high schools to universities," said Josue Limon, MEChA president and a political science and Mexican American studies junior.

"There were a lot of people that speak out of emotion from both sides tonight. People need to do research, they need to learn the facts," he added.

MEChA is a national program to promote Chicano culture in secondary and postsecondary educational institutions. Forty MEChA members attend the University of Arizona.

UA MEChA members expressed passion about the need for the program.

"It's very embarrassing to come to school and find out how much you don't know," said Erica Nielsen, a psychology senior and first-year MEChA member.

"Americans are naive to think one culture will satisfy the needs of this country. It's a crime, it's unconstitutional and it's racist," she said.

A total of 47 people spoke to the board; four people opposed to the curriculum change.

Passion exploded from both sides at the beginning and end of the four-hour meeting.

One woman told supporters to "go back to Mexico" as they were walking into the meeting, Limon said.

Limon has been president of the Tucson chapter of MEChA since May.

MEChA has over 600 national chapters in high schools and universities. Eight of 12 high schools in Tucson have MEChA members, Limon said.

"We're a little hesitant (about the results), but we're still holding each others' hands," said Ben Lopez, a MEChA member and political science and pre-law sophomore.