Extraordinary Rebels

October 5, 2009 by Eva Rodriguez-Saenz · Leave a Comment

Making a difference, student activists are a critical part of campus life

As I watched CNN Heroes one night, I began to think of some of our very own students whose activism has impacted our lives.

Young Rebels are making a difference in our community. UNLV should be proud to be the home of a group of young social activists whose efforts should be noted. Student involvement on campus expands beyond the third floor of the Student Union.

Our university is home to social activists who are taking on issues affecting our community, our state, our nation and our world and making a difference.

If you passed by Chipotle last Wednesday, you may have noticed a group of determined activists denouncing the owner corporation’s treatment of farm workers. You might have even seen them on Facebook or MySpace trying to reach out.
This group of activists has branched out beyond the confines of academia to instigate social awareness on issues that range from immigration to xenophobia and homophobia to violence and rape.

Three years ago, I would have never envisioned that the United Coalition for Immigrant Rights would become such a successful inclusion of great minds whose activism would change UNLV and the Las Vegas community at large.

Xuan Carlos Espinoza Cuellar is a young, self-described “xueer, muxerista, xueerista, xicanista” student at UNLV. Cuellar’s fierce work in the community has inspired others to be mindful of stereotypes that surround our community and positively impacts our university through workshops dedicated to creating a greater self awareness.

Cuellar’s involvement on campus also extends from MEChA to U.C.I.R. and beyond the classroom into the minds and hearts of fellow students.

Alongside Xuan is a group of great young “womyn” like Mildred Salazar – a student, a mother and an activist; Irina Barrera – a student, activist and a facilitato; and Jasmine Rubalcava – a student, a feminist and an activist.

Their work has made it possible for UNLV to host the second Annual “Living Without Borders” Conference that will take place Nov. 6 – 8 this year.

This gathering empowers community members and students to become self aware of the needs of others and how to create change. This year the conference will count the presence of Rinku Sen – the President and Executive Director of the Applied Research Center and publisher of “ColorLines” magazine.

Another great example of young heroes on campus is the trio of student body President Adam Cronis, UNLV “ANTS” founder Chris Harrington and alumna Tamara Torres. Their combined effort to help with the footwork allowed other students to join in support for the creation of a Textbook Reserve.

Torres shared with me her reason for pushing forward on such a project: Her professor for her ENG 101 class expected students to buy the current edition. She had the older edition and both books were authored by the professor.
“I had no money. [I was] barely getting by. I had to buy the book but had to hand wash my clothes that semester, like I was back in Venezuela. I had to walk to school because I had no money for the bus.

And for what? So that [the professor] may have a percentage of [my money]?”

Torres is a recent alumna of Women’s Research Institute of Nevada- Summer Institute. As a former College of Southern Nevada student, she understands the grievances of having to buy textbooks every semester. She enjoys helping people and believes that “it is the right thing to do.”

These are the kind of heroes we should be celebrating.
Student activists on campus are making a difference in many lives.

Next week, UNLV will host “Take Back the Night,” an all-day event that will focus on empowering victims of domestic, sexual, dating and gender violence. The efforts put forth by UNLV students and alumni in partnership with a multitude of community organizations will enable such an event.

Please step out of your classrooms and attend one of the many events available on Oct. 8.
It feels good to know that we do not need to look too far to find our very own set of heroes, facilitators and guides.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Take Back the Night:
myspace.com/takebackthecampus