Alumni and incoming members reflect on group’s legacy
“For all people, as with individuals, the time comes when they must reckon with their history. For the Chicano, the present is a time of renaissance, of renacimiento.”
These are the first words of El Plan de Santa Barbara, a constitution of sorts, adopted at a conference in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1969 by a group of students from dozens of universities across the state. That same day, they formed the social movement organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán, focused on the advancement of Chicanos in higher education.
The Western Washington University chapter took shape shortly after. Despite its decades-long history, its activities were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, five years later, first-year student Jasmin Montano and second-year Venecia Iraola will serve on the board for the reestablished chapter this fall.
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