Viking_Yearbook_90

Hispanic Student Union "We're a family. That's the most important thing. Sometimes that gets overlooked," said Rene' Rangel, coordinator of the Hispanic Student Union (HSU). The HSU is a student organiza– tion which functions as a center for Hispanics and other interested students. Educating the PSU com– munity about the Hispanic culture and issues has been their primary goal. Their events include lectures, concerts, dances, films, workshops, and conferences. They also assist Hispanic students in the admission, registration, financial aid guidance and academic procedures required at PSU. The HSU has also been active in making Hispanic students successful and visible in the commu– nity. Approximately 20 students help to organize the activities that the group sponsors. There are ap– proximately 230 Hispanic students enrolled at PSU. "Two hundred and fifty His– panic students were enrolled at PSU 86 H ispaNi c. St u.de11 t Ur ·""- this year. Last year only 18 gradu– ated. There needs to be a way to get these people through school. Hispan– ics are the largest minority in Oregon and only 1-2% of the students here are Hispanic. Once we get them here, keeping them here is an entirely different story," said Rangel. In September, a 16 de Sep– tiembre dinner and dance was held which featured key note speaker Jaime Escalante, portrayed in the film Stand and Deliver. "It was bumpin'," said Tomas McNicholas, publicity representative for the HSU. "It was a great way to welcome the students back to school. That week was Hispanic Heritage Week. We showed that we were proud to be Hispanic," said Rangel. ,. In November, four HSU mem– bers were able to attend the Wash– ington State MECHA conference. They gained valuable information and inspiration for setting the year's goals for the HSU. An annual dinner/dance was held January 5 in the Smith ballroom which featured the salsa band Latin Expression. The annual MECHA conference which was held in Tucson, Arizona this year, was postponed. It took place May 9-11 instead of early April. Since this date was during spring mid-terms, most of the mem– bers who had originally planned on attending were not able to do so. On May 23, the HSU ho~ted a spring carnival/festival which was held in the park blocks. Other stu– dent grotJps sponsored food, enter– tainment, and informational booths. "The purpose of this fiesta was to unite all of the student groups on campus and to try to get students involved. We hope to make it an annual event," said Michelle Keesecker who was elected co– coordinator of the HSU last spring. The group was involved in the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration which took place May 4-6 at Water– front Park in Portland. This event