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Class of 2017 boasts largest Latino population Guilford has seen in years
BY VALERIA SOSA
Staff Writer
Imagine attending a school where no one
understands your culture, your beliefs or
your identity. Unfortunately, for minority
groups, this can be an everyday reality.
For instance, many Latino students
have had such experiences in higher
education, where they are often extremely
underrepresented. Guilford College,
however, has started making progress in
minimizing these injustices.
This year, the first-year class contains
one of the largest Latino populations in
recent years, with a total of 33 traditional
first-year Latino students, representing 7.6
percent of their class.
In 2010, Guilford had the largest Latino
population in its history with 34 students,
but that number dropped sharply to 17 the
following year. The numbers have been
slowly climbing since then, however, and
are projected to continue to grow.
According to Andy Strickler, dean of
admission and financial aid, the Admission
Office did not concentrate on recruiting
specific groups of students, but instead
offered resources to all students.
"We spend our time and energy on all
students who come from underrepresented
backgrounds," said Strickler. "But we did
not come up with specific recruitment for
African American students, for Latino
students, for Asian students."
This increase in Latino students
at Guilford can be attributed to the
collaboration between the Admission
Office and the Multicultural Education
Department.
Held every November, the Soy un Lfder
conference brings Latino students from
Guilford, Alamance and Forsyth Counties
to Guilford College. Organized by Hispanos
Unidos de Guilford, the conference gives
students the opportunity to learn about the
application process, financial aid and the
college experience in general.
First-year Jose Oliva was recruited
through the program.
"I went to Soy un Lfder, and that was one
of the first times I heard about college and
how college works," said Oliva. "Guilford
really believes in their students, beyond
the academics. The Admission Office takes
care of you, they send you emails and they
are very interested in you."
Oliva, who is also a part of HUG and the
Bonner program, expressed the sense of
family and community that these programs
bring him and other students. One such
student is senior Joyce Medina Allard, co
vice president of HUG.
"It's been like my family, it is my
community here, like my second home,"
said Medina Allard. "It is a place I feel
comfortable to express myself as a Latina
student."
Jorge Zeballos, director of diversity
and training development, has witnessed
"It's been like my family; it is my community here, like my
second home. It is a place I feel comfortable to express myself as
a Latina student."
Joyce Medina Allard, co-vice president of HUG
the benefits from this increase in Latino
students at Guilford.
"It has made a tremendous difference
in the experience the Latino students are
having now," said Zeballos, who is the
advisor for HUG.
"They are feeling a greater sense of
community, they are feeling a better sense
of support because there is not just a few of
them. That is certainly helping in terms of
retention and graduation, because students
feel that this is a campus where they can
feel at home."
As core values at Guilford, justice and
diversity play a huge role in the importance
of the Guilford Latino population.
"The physical presence of a diverse
student population contributes to creating
a richer academic environment," said
Zeballos. "So it actually benefits all
students.
It enhances the learning beyond the
classroom. And it is connected to the core
value of justice by creating greater access
for a population that has been historically
marginalized from higher education."
Professor of Spanish Sylvia Trelles,
who is from Cuba, also finds Latino
representation in college settings to be
invaluable.
"For me, personally, it is very important
to see Latino students at Guilford, to see
them getting a higher education," said
Trelles. "It is important for the future of
the Latino population and for the future of
the U.S. that the fastest growing minority
is educated."
Despite this step in the right direction,
the battle for diversity is not yet won.
According to USA today, while the percent
of Latino high school graduates attending
college is increasing. Latinos are still much
less likely to enroll full-time or at a four-
year college than their white counterparts.
"The drive towards diversity never
ends," said Strickler.
SENATE Update
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This Week's
Developments
Craig Gray, head of die IT department, came and spoke about the new proposed
IT plan and how it will affect students. Lily Collins gave a presentation on
Powershift,a 10,000 strong student environmental activism conference. Ines
Sanchez de Losada talked about the importance of Soy un Li'der, an annual
conference which brings,Latino high school students from around the area
to Guilford and helps them understand the opportunities available for higher
education.
Next Week's Plans
Senate now meets on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in Founders at the Boren Lounge.
We’ll be bringing forward all of the suggestions that we received during tabling
this week and discussing how to pursue and respond to each one.
Contact Us
We need to hear your voice! Have an idea? Concern? Great recipe? It’s important
to us.
Questions? Email: senate@guilford.edu or visit
http://guilfordsenate.wordpress.com
Compiled by Samir Hazboun, Community Senate President
More than 100 contemporary works of art made by Inuit, the
indigenous peoples of Nunavut (the largest and northernmost territory in
Canada), are on display at Guilford College Art Gallery through the fall
semester.
Drawn from the collection of anonymous collectors whose four
children attended Guilford, the sculptures, textiles, prints, drawings and .
paintings reflect Inuit artists’ personal experiences of living on the land
and their relationships with animals and animal spirits.
Guilford College Art Gallery Presents
an Inuit culturalist, clothing designer, musical performer,
lawyer, activist, linguist/interpreter (and mother of five!)