University of Arizona - Desert Yearbook (Tucson, AZ)

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HAS FAR TO GO included. Raising Social conscience J-V Aexican Americans are a very diverse group. Their aspirations, intelligence, goals, philosophies, and politics are much different than that of any other group, said Dr. Macario Saldate IV. The error that is always committed by the public is the belief that Mexican-Americans are conservative. But, ac- cording to Saldate, There is no typical prototype Mexican. He also said, There are a variety of perspectives of what we are and are not. We need a realistic notion of our historical and political varia- tions. One such example, is our unique historical abilities, which we use when balancing our emo- tional and traditional ties along with our modern ties, he said. In response to the need for Mexican representa- tion, the Mexican-American Studies Committee was created. About the same time a notion of the Civil Rights movement began. In the late 1960 ' s, Saldate basically wanted the Mexican-American presence in the University Of Arizona. Our (MAS) very existence at the UA was controversial and it was not legally recognized, he said. I involved in many discussions with faculty mem- bers, asking for their cooperation, he said. They just looked at me and said I was wild and off the wall. Even its name was criticised. There are still challenges that need to be knocked down. I do not know if we (Mexican-American Studies) will play an important part in meeting those challenges, said Saldate. However, if histo- ry is going to reflect our presence, Mexican-Ameri- can Studies is going to make sure we are part of it. Mexican-Americans have always been involved in fields of mining, cattle, agriculture and railroad, he said. We must make sure we are accepted and The faculty members would not bend, he said. Therefore, no one ever validated our participa- tion. We were never allowed to come in through the front door, we had to get in through other ways, he said. I saw the Mexican-American as always having been the invisible minority, he said. For the first years the committee was in one office, had few members and no secretary. In 1972, how 28 MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES

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CREATIVE WRITING 27

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ever, they hired the first director Salomon Bald- enegro. He worked hard to get the Center brought to attention but he met with a lot of obstacles ' Saldate said. Baldenegro had promised to stay for only a limited amount of time and if he felt he had not accomplished anything then he would step down and give somebody else a chance, Saldate said. In 1981 Saldate ' s mission was to change the Center and give it a departmental status. President Koffler did not seem to be able to get anything done, Saldate said. According to other UA faculty Saldate was considered, a joke at this institution. But in 1982, after pressure from the community, the Board of Registration gave the Committee its current status as a department. • Maria Altamirano Professor Guerrero explains to students the re- sponsibility they have to preserving the study of the latin culture. Photo by GREG BERG ACADEMICS 29