Students bring Chicano activist to campus

December 1st, 2007 by Erica Bradley

The Chicano History 101 class at CSU-Pueblo invited and hosted Priscilla Falcon, Ph.D, for a day of discussion and debate about the ongoing issues of racism. Falcon is a recognizable face for the Chicano movement, especially because of her views on immigration.

“The future of the US belongs to Latinos. We have to stand up. We have to know what we want,” Falcon said. “I think it’s going to take whole communities coming together to solve the immigration problem.”

Falcon talked about the current problems with immigration by discussing President Bush’s decisions. Falcon said Bush cannot solve the problem.

On Friday Nov. 9, Falcon gave two lectures. The first was held at 10 a.m. in the First Year Student Center, and the second was held in the OUC Aspen Leaf room at 2 p.m. Falcon also talked with students during breakfast and lunch sessions.

Falcon said she agreed to discuss racism at CSU-Pueblo because she wants to share her knowledge with young people.

At the 2 p.m. session Falcon discussed the history of immigration including the wars between the United States and Mexico.

Falcon listed two things that needed to happen for change to occur. U.S. immigration policies and globalization need to change. Falcon said policies and globalization affect how people see the world.

Falcon’s solution is to put more money into education.

“We want to work. We want to contribute to our communities,” Falcon said.

Falcon stressed to the audience that the young people are the leaders of tomorrow; only they can change what is happening with the immigration issues.

The second lecture had a large turnout consisting of CSU-Pueblo students, faculty and community members.

“I felt honored to have the opportunity to meet her. I’ve heard so much information about her involvement in the Chicano movement. She has so much to share,” said senior English major Juliana Aragon Fatula said.

A 15 minute question and answer session was held at 3 p.m.

At the end of the event Falcon commented on the future of the Chicano movement. She believes that a bigger movement will begin soon because of the current problems with immigration.

Falcon came to Pueblo because of an invitation from a student in a Chicano Studies class.

Fawn-Amber Montoya, coordinator of Chicano Studies, showed a film, La Raza de Colorado – Movimiento, at the beginning of the semester to her Chicano History 101 class.

Montoya showed the film because she said she thought it was representative of the Hispanic experience in Pueblo. A lot of local Chicano leaders were featured, including Priscilla Falcon and her husband Ricardo Falcon.

The students became very interested in the film, and they asked if they could invite Dr. Falcon.

“I told them to ask her,” Montoya said.

One student e-mailed Falcon and asked her to come to the university to speak.

“I was impressed that a student asked me to come. I agreed because the student requested me to come and speak,” Falcon said.

Ricardo Falcon was an active member in the Chicano movement in the ‘60’s who was passionate about the education of Chicanos. He was murdered in 1972 at a gas station in Orogrande, N.M. He was traveling to El Paso to participate in a convention.

Falcon has followed in her husband’s footsteps and Friday’s lectures showed her passion for education and reform.

Fatula credited Falcon, and the Chicano movement, as breaking the barriers that allowed minorities to receive equal rights, including education.

Fatula said Falcon’s lectures were important and inspiring.

“She talked about things we aren’t learning in classes,” Fatula said.

“She’s an educator and a Ph.D, but she speaks the same way she was raised. It lets me know that I don’t have to speak perfect English to be a teacher,” Fatula said.

Falcon volunteered her time but the Office of Student Activities paid her transportation and expenses while she was here, OSA President, Matt Green, said.

Green estimated the total for Falcon’s trip at $500 dollars. Usually, a speaker could cost between $1,000 and $2,000.

“I volunteered my time today because Pueblo has been a central part of the Chicano movement,” Falcon said.

Falcon is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Northern Colorado.

Posted in Top Story