Candle-Light Vigil Nov. 23 2009

MEChA de SDSU students held a Candle-Light Vigil protesting the new admissions policy for local students. It is one of the many ways in which the students show support for the students that might be denied the opportunity to attend SDSU for the following year.

Current SDSU students let the HS students know that they are fighting together with them for the removal of the new policy. HS students raised their voice to show that they want to be part of the SDSU student list and they don't have the sources to attend out of state colleges and or universitites out of their local area. They also raised their voices to say that they shouldn't have to compete with out of state students for a spot that belongs to them for being in the local area.

Candles were handed out to the students and where carried as they marched around the campus while singing "No Nos Moveran", and "De Colores" to further extend the message that they want local-access to SDSU. The march started at the Aztec Center stair and went arround the library, ending at Manchester Hall. The candles where then set on the floor to spell the word FORGOTTEN to represent those who have been denied the opportunity to attend SDSU for the following year.

MEChA students from different schools will be fighting together for the restoration of the local students admission policy. They local-access and they want it NOW!

The event went well in overall and while there were many things that could've been better, the message was there and it was being expressed in different ways. I myself attended and was very happy and pleased to know that HS students are being represented by MEChA and that they will keep on supporting us.

San Diego MEChA Central

Mechistas gathered together at Balboa's Centro Cultural de la Raza, Saturday, November 21st 2009 for the comeback meeting of MEChA Central. The Mechistas that gathered there had a chance to talk about the importance of this meetings and why they should be held often. Some of the reasons given where:

• to establish communication between the different chapters of Mecha
• for support
• involvement with activities from different chapters
• to understand that what happens in the community has an impact on all communities

An agreement was made among the Mechistas present that day that it was important to have the meetings often and the plan was set as follows:

• meetings will be held once a month
• the dates aren't exact but will be set for the third Saturday of every month
• time will be at noon
• Chapters will take turns hosting the meetings

because we know that some third Saturdays are already scheduled for an event there will be some months were the meeting might be held on a different date, but for the most part the Mechistas are asked to please schedule future events around the third Saturday of every month so that the meetings can work out as planned.

Some the upcoming events that were brought up on this meeting:

• SDSU protest Nov. 23
• Statewide Conference at Pasadena City College in the spring
• National Conference in Seattle, Washington mid 2010

The next San Diego Meeting will be held in less than a month due to the winter break.

Next Meeting: Sunday, December 6th @ 12pm in CSU San Marcos

Should Marine Mammals Be Kept in Captivity?

I do feel that marine mammals should be held in captivity because they are protected from wild dangers, they get medical attention, if needed, and because they provide entertainment for people. I think that it is a good way for animals and humans to interact and mingle together.

In the wild, many animals can't protect themselves from the dangers that are out there, especially the dangers that are caused by humans like, trash in the seas that we forget to dump in the trash can and end up in the salty water. Also much of the water from the seas can often get contaminated by the water that is not treated and some of the animals that come by can get sick freom that contamination. I really think that having them in captivity saves them from this sort of dangers.

In the salty waters animals can't get treated if they get ill or if they get hurt. At places were the animals are kept in captivity they are treated for injuries if harmed and if they are ill they are treated as well. I know that some of the animals would go through extreme pains and they would not be treated for that pain if they were out in the wild waters and for that reason I feel that it is good that they are held in captivity. If a female mammal is pregnant there is a bigger chance that she can give birth witout conplications.

Holding marine mammals in captivity I belive is a good way for people to know that this animals exist, I think that it is good that they get to interact with us humans and we get to learn about them. I know that saome people don't pay attention to the facts when they go to the entertainment places like Sea World but there are many ther people that do like to learn about them. I think that holding the animals in captivity is also a good way to understand their needs and their actions. Its good to learn about the animals that surround us.

Holding animals in captivity is a good way to learn, entertain, and a good way to keep the animals safe. I do feel that it is important to hold them in captivity as long as they are being help out.

The 39th Annual HS Conference at SDSU

The M.E.Ch.A Conference at SDSU was very entertaining and educational too. I must admit that the speakers from the workshops sessions one and two that I attended where good to some extent until they were interrupted, and the other speaker was just way off topic. But the whole event was good and interesting. I loved the sketch performed by the Mechistas and the dances, especially the Mujeres en Resistencia dance. Really portrayed what their name means.

The food was great and the music was fantastic. The students really had a great time dancing and enjoying the sight of seeing others dancing. I really enjoyed the whole event and I am definetly looking fordward to next years conference. I really do hope that the Mechistas that participated in making the event possible feel proud of what they did. It was a nice Saturday and I, personally wouldn't have been able to spend my Saturday day better and surrounded by such caring people like are the Mechistas de SDSU.

There was only one thing that I didn't like at all. There were too many workshops that sounded very interesting but there was very little time. About 30 workshops and we were only able to attend two. I really wish there was a way to be able to see more but I do understand that there is not enough time. I was really happy with everything else though. And the Mechistas were great. This Years theme was: DEMAND EQUAL EDUCATION THROUGH ORGANIZATION! NO BUDGET CUTS! NO DEPORTATION! NO MILITARIZATION!

M.E.Ch.A/Chicano Studies

I never though that there was so much history in the Latino culture, my culture, fighting for the rights of other Latinos. Education is so important now days for us and there is so much that can be done yet, few people are involved.
M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/Chicana de Aztlan) is a student organization that empowers and teaches young men and women of any race, but focusing on the RAZA LATINA, about the history of our people. They teach people like me to believe and know that we are worth more than what the system wants us to be worth. Mechistas follow and study the chicano movements that have taken place and have been significant to the place we are given today.
I have learned many things about the chicano movements that have occurred in the past decades. For example I learned that chicano movements started as early as the late 60's and that since then a chain of new movements have taken place. Today there are many movements going on and while all of them are formed by different people and in different places they all have the same purpose, to inform and fight for our people, our gente, Nuestra Raza, la RAZA LATINA, los Chicanos y Chicanas.
I am very content to know that our goals and dreams can be possible but we must unite forces and fight together as a nation for us, our children, and our people. I am happy to know Latinos that are involved in M.E.Ch.A and I am happy to be taking these classes at Lindsay. The best school EVER.