CLS program losing students due to director controversy
(Last updated: 09/30/09 7:59pm)I graduated from MSU in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in social relations and policy with a Chicano/Latino Studies specialization. One of the main reasons I decided to attend MSU was the fact that its Chicano/Latino Studies program carries an immense amount of prestige throughout Michigan, the Midwest and the nation. Such a statement can be validated by the fact that MSU has one of two Chicano/Latino Studies doctoral programs in the world. I currently am completing my Master of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan and have been contemplating returning to MSU to complete my doctoral degree in Chicano/Latino Studies. However, the turmoil that has been generated by unsupportive and incompetent administrative staff ultimately will have a profound impact on my decision.
I think it is despicable what Dean Marietta Baba and Sheila Contreras are doing to students, staff and the Chicano/Latino Studies program. As a student who was labeled “at-risk” upon my acceptance to MSU, I relied on a supportive and rigorous environment to ensure my academic, personal and professional success. The Chicano/Latino Fellows Program provided the mentorship and guidance necessary to navigate through an unfamiliar and, at times, hostile environment. The students and staff that managed the Chicano/Latino Studies program during my tenure at MSU were invaluable to my current success as a student and as a professional.
I recently was informed the Chicano/Latino Fellows Program was eliminated and so were the hopes and dreams of countless of underrepresented students who rely on the mentorship and support of committed staff and mentors to fulfill their academic and professional aspirations.
It is important to understand the critical importance students and progressive staff played in the establishment of the Chicano/Latino Studies program. Their devotion and perseverance to ensure the development and institutionalization of an intellectually rigorous academic specialization and doctoral program cannot be ignored. Baba and Contreras have generated an oppressive and hostile environment that, not only negates this fact, but also seeks to further marginalize students who are requesting a peaceful resolution to their demands. Contreras continuously has ignored the needs and humbled requests of the Chicano/Latino community and their allies and Baba has endorsed this vicious treatment with her actions.
MSU alumni, the University of Michigan Latin Social Work Coalition, and the multitude of concerned students throughout Michigan and our nation fully support the students, faculty and staff at MSU in their pursuit of social justice for the Chicano/Latino Studies program, the Chicano/Latino community and their allies.
Isaias Solis
2005 MSU graduate
Originally Published: 09/30/09 7:59pm
student
09/30/09 8:56pm“Baba and Contreras have generated an oppressive and hostile environment that, not only negates this fact, but also seeks to further marginalize students who are requesting a peaceful resolution to their demands. Contreras continuously has ignored the needs and humbled requests of the Chicano/Latino community and their allies and Baba has endorsed this vicious treatment with her actions.
MSU alumni, the University of Michigan Latin Social Work Coalition, and the multitude of concerned students throughout Michigan and our nation fully support the students, faculty and staff at MSU in their pursuit of social justice for the Chicano/Latino Studies program, the Chicano/Latino community and their allies.”
As an impartial student, I have to say that “hostile environment” has been nurtured by the CLS students.
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another student
10/01/09 12:41amTo student:You nailed it.
This guy just wants to sound smart and maybe he is. But you have to definitely be informed.
The Chicano/Latino Fellows program would give students in the CLS program a monthly stipend to mentor other students like Solis. But when those students were asked to formally document the hours of mentoring they started making all this big deal about Contreras and blah blah blah.
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Hasta la victoria
10/01/09 12:55amSiempre!!1
informed student
10/01/09 1:06amAs a mentor in that program I had no problem documenting my hours. In fact at the start of spring semester I went into the office to fill out a hard copy of my mentoring log and was told the new director eliminated the formal documentation. Students did not complain about documenting their hours, they voiced their concern when the new director eliminated scheduled events They voiced concern when after receiving a grant for Mentor Month in Michigan she decided to use the funding for a reception instead of recruitment.
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another student
10/01/09 1:21amIt seems odd that so many are so quick to criticize when the facts are not all out there. The same students being criticized for not willing to compromise are the same students who organized a public forum LAST fall that the director reluctantly came to. She then made it personal and got in shouting matches with people she had issues with in the past, neglecting students concerns.
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hmmmmmm
10/01/09 12:54pm“booty hurt”
So now Contreras supporters are making homophobic comments?
What’s next? Ruben Martinez going to take us all out to lunch so we can talk about it on the University’s tab?
I think apologies to the LBGTQI community are in order.
Maybe this is just another example of the character and mindset of the people who Contreras has surrounded herself with?
unprofessional conduct
10/01/09 8:50pmwatch these videos…As a Chicano Scholar I am embarrassed by the lack of academic respect these students showed to the dean and to the academic institutions. The students don’t get it, they presented no objective facts.
My advice to the students is to live MSU and stop embarrassing us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doi173_HRmU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj0Q958VzJY&feature=related
CLS
10/01/09 9:07pmSEEMS LIKE SHE IS DOING A GREAT JOB!!!!
https://www.msu.edu/~cls/index.htm
Xochiquetzal
10/02/09 9:15amThought I saw Todd at the PB last night. Wanna talk about it Todd?
jsri
10/02/09 9:46amRuben Martinez is doing an outstanding job. Look at this conference he is putting together. He has put MSU on the map.
http://www.jsri.msu.edu/whatsnew/index.html
The students have no clue how important he is to MSU and the midwest. They are living in a bubble.
Cihuateteo
10/02/09 11:41amSay it ain’t so, Todd.
illinois
10/02/09 1:26pmRuben Martinez is the man. He is the most important Chicano leader in the Midwest right now that is trying to create a space for Latinos
Real JSRI
10/02/09 3:25pmNo, Dr. Martinez is not most important Latino leader in the Midwest. You have to be crazy to believe that!
No, Dr. Martinez is not organizing a conference because his staff is doing all work when he is at lunch and on “my time” in the office.
No, Dr. Martinez is not trying creating a space (JSRI) for Latinos because this space has been here for almost 20 years!
conference
10/02/09 4:07pmif you think you are so important to JSRI, you should quit and start your own conference. I bet the conference will still take place.
Cihuateteo
10/05/09 2:27pmSo, Todd, any repeats of Thursday night over the weekend? Or have you filled your quota for the month?
Ruben M
10/06/09 2:52ammy favorite free lunch on the university’s bill was when I ordered one of everything off of the menu at bob evans.
i love bob evans.
Free Lunch
10/07/09 12:13amRuben O Martinez,
Could I set up a free lunch date with you at the state room to discuss your future as JSRI director and your rude and unprofessional behavior toward your worker. Remember Michigan tax dollars are paying for our lunch date. It must be nice to make $170.000 dollars a year and provide yourself with free lunches with my tax dollars.
Please call me
Xochiquetzal
10/07/09 8:57amTodd, have you ever had a “party” like you had on Thursday before? How many times before? Who were at these “parties”? I hope the rumors aren’t true but you’ve been very quiet lately. Afraid of the consequences?
Tezcatlipoca
10/08/09 3:03pmXochi,
I’ve heard you’re quite a patron of PB yourself. I hear you have quite a love affair with Zinfandel. Good thing they sell it by the box. Better ween yourself down. You have a kangaroo kommittee to sit on. Now fly away little flower birdie.
Ruben Martinez is too busy making minor edits to other peoples work so he can claim authorship. He doesn’t have time to organize a conference.
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Xochiquetzal
10/08/09 3:36pmTezcatlipoca:
I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, Sir, because I’m not myself you see, said Alice.
Tezcatlipoca
10/08/09 3:50pmI see you are already well into today’s box if not into the second. Congratulations. I wish you well.
Alpha & Omega
10/08/09 5:29pmMy children, I did not create you to fight amongst yourselves. I did not breathe life into your lungs so that you may use that breath to destroy one another. Make peace with your brothers as I made peace with my earthly brothers.