Print
EmailOctober 29, 2007
SSU to Host Spring 2008 Statewide Conference
By Omar Medina
It was with a unanimous vote that MEChA de Sonoma was chosen as the hosting chapter for the 2008 California MEChA Statewide Conference yesterday at this semester's conference hosted by CSU Stanislaus.
For more information please check: http://www.mechadesonoma.org/statewide.html in the near future.
If you would like to receive updated email information, please let us know a: statewide@mechadesonoma.org.
October 25, 2007
Fall 2007 Statewide MEChA Conference
By Omar Medina
The Fall 2007 statewide conference is this weekend at CSU Stanislaus. Just a reminder for all those that are attending, everyone is to meet at the flagpole at 4:00pm. Please do not be late. We wish all those attending a safe drive and a fun time!
MEChA de Sonoma will be bidding for the Spring 2008 Statewide MEChA Conference. If approved, please check back here for updates.
For conference information you can email: statewide@mechadesonoma.org
October 5, 2007
A bit of MEChA history in Newbytes Today
By Omar Medina
In honor of trailblazing newsman Ruben Salazar's relentless efforts to chronicle the complexity of race relations in Los Angeles, the U.S. Postal Service is issuing a commemorative stamp of the former Los Angeles Times and Santa Rosa Press Democrat reporter and columnist.
Tens of millions of the first-class 41-cent stamps will be issued some time next year, Postal Service officials said. It will be among five stamps honoring U.S. journalists to be officially unveiled in Washington on Oct. 5.
"He was a groundbreaker for Latinos in this country, but his work spoke to all Americans," Postmaster Gen. John E. Potter said recently. "By giving voice to those who didn't have one, Ruben Salazar worked to improve life for everybody. His reporting of the Latino experience in this country set a standard that's rarely met even today."
It was the way Salazar died that made him a martyr to many in the Mexican American community. His head was shattered by a heavy, torpedo-shaped tear gas projectile fired by a sheriff's deputy during a riot Salazar was covering in East Los Angeles on Aug. 29, 1970. Salazar was 42.
In March 1979, SSU renamed its library in honor of Salazar. Until the dedication ceremony, the building was only called "The Library," although there had been previous efforts to change the name to The Emiliano Zapata Library and The Ronald Reagan Library that failed.
Victor Soto of MEChA, who led the effort to rename the building after Salazar, first proposed the idea to the Academic Senate in March 1977. After popularizing the notion around campus and gaining strong campus support, it was voted to approve the proposal to name the Library after Ruben Salazar. The name was submitted to the CSU Board of Trustees and approved by Board Chair Roy T. Brophy and Chancellor Glenn S. Dumke.
The official dedication ceremony was held on March 2, 1979 and the event hosted eight San Francisco artists’ galleries in the building. This is the second CSU structure to be named after Salazar; in 1976 CSU Los Angeles dedicated its South Hall in Salazar’s memory.
In 2002, after the Schulz Library was constructed, the Ruben Salazar Library became Salazar Hall, and was renovated. It has won many awards for its energy efficient design and has one of the largest solar panel grids in the northern California region. Salazar Hall is now home to many of the school’s administrative and educational offices, as well as the Journalism Laboratory and several classrooms.
October 3, 2007
Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Day Sunrise Gathering
By Omar Medina
MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2007, 5:00 A.M., PIER 31, SAN FRANCISCO
The Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Day Sunrise Gathering happens annually at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. IITC extends and invitation to the general public to come and listen to the voices, stories, songs, dances and drums from traditional Indigenous Peoples from the Western Hemisphere who offer an alternative and historically correct perspective to "Columbus Day." Join us as we give honor and respect to our ancestors, cultures and survival and celebrate the recent adoption of the "Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" by the United Nations General Assembly.
Schedule:
0500 am: Alcatraz Cruises ticket office opens.
0530 am: First boat departure.
0545 am: Second boat departure.
0600 am: Final boat departure.
0700 am: Sunrise ceremony begins.
0800 am: Boats begin return.
Special guest and speakers include:
Lenny Foster, Dine, IITC Board Member, National Prisoners Rights Project, American Indian Movement; Floyd "Redcrow" Westerman, Lakota, Musician, song writer, Actor;
Lorena Banyacya, Hopi, Oraibi, Arizona, Veterans of Alcatraz; Richard Oakes Family;
Veterans of the The Longest Walk-1978 and walkers of The Longest Walk 2-2008;
Jimbo Simmons, Choctaw, Master of Ceremonies,
IITC/AIM, Andrea Carmen, Yaqui, IITC Executive Director.
Ticket Info:
http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/websi...gathering.aspx
This event is one day on Monday, October 8, 2007 leaving at 5:30a.m,
5:45 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
The Indigenous People's sunrise ceremony is a comemoration of the start of the 1969-1971 occupation of Alcatraz by the 'Indians of All Tribes.'
Purchase and print your tickets on the web. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 415 981-7625 or at the Pier 33 Ticket Booth. The ticket booth opens at 5:00 am on Monday, October 8, 2007. Tickets are $11.00 per person. Children 5 and under are free.
PEACE
