This is a response to the Nov. 13 article, “MEChA continues commitment to Hispanic community,” concerning the Adelante Con Educacion (ACE) conference. I have two main concerns. First, I was misquoted, and second, I disagree with the analysis. In an effort to come together and collectively understand the current situation facing Chicano (or as stated in The Daily, Mexican-American or Hispanic) students who want to go to college, more information and a clarification of the facts is necessary.

I was quoted as saying, “Every year, more and more Mexican-American students are attending college.” This is a complete fabrication. The ACE Conference is organized each year by students who see that students of color are continuously underrepresented at the UW and all universities across the nation. The low and diminishing numbers of ‘minorities’ admitted is a result of the abolition of affirmative action by Initiative 200, and the continuation of institutionalized racism that aims to keep student of color out of higher education. Students of color are discouraged from attending higher education, pushed out of high schools, and funneled into low-skill jobs or recruited by the military.

Another purpose of the ACE conference was to promote college as the means for building self-empowerment through awareness, identity and education. The conference proved to students that college does not have to be a dream — it can be a goal turned reality. It proved they are not alone in their demand to go to college, and they will not be alone on the path to get there. Furthermore, it questioned the structure of the educational system regarding the exclusion of people of color. However, it was never a goal of the ACE conference to force the student to fill out an application, as implied in Tuesday’s article: “Each student who took part this weekend will be required to file application for enrollment in UW to ensure they begin the college admissions process.” This is incorrect. First, the goal was to promote higher education and self-empowerment at any university, not just the UW. Second, this argument takes away from the students’ demand to attend college. They were not required to file an application; the ACE conference supported the students in their own efforts.

In Tuesday’s article, Chicanos, or Mexican-Americans, were termed as “Hispanics.” MEChA discredits this as a label of identification because the term Hispanic means one is a descendant of the Spanish conquerors of Latin America. The term negates any Indigenous or African heritage that Chicanos are proud of. The workshops presented to the students dealt with these issues of identity and acknowledgement. Chicano history, current Chicana issues, el Campesino (dealing with free trade vs. fair trade) and Chican@101 were some of the workshops the students experienced to enhance the awareness of their rich history, and to discuss present political, social and economic barriers to equality. It is a safe assumption that anything affiliated with MEChA should be termed as relating to Chicanos/as.

The ACE students were seniors and juniors from almost 20 different high schools (not just Wapato High School as indicated), and totaled just over 200 bodies. High school senior Cecilia Valencia stated in Tuesday’s article that the conference “provides a chance for information and opportunities [they] might otherwise have never received.” If this is the opinion of most the ACE conference participants, then I do believe the ACE conference was a success. Now it is time to examine other ways to rid the education system of racism.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) strives to provide a structure that creates and promotes consciousness through political, cultural and educational action in the Chicano community.