Hundreds of minority students will travel from different
University of California campuses to UCLA for a two-day conference
to discuss issues affecting their communities in an open forum this
weekend.
The conference, titled “Replanting Roots, Multiplying
Thoughts, and Springing into Action” and hosted by the UC
Student Association, will kick off at Ackerman Union on Friday. Its
aims are to capture the components necessary to being a successful
student organizer and leader for students of color.
The annual conference, started 16 years ago in response to the
declining number of students of color in the UC system, is taking
place to offer a forum for students to strategize and initiate the
changes they want to see within the greater community.
“It is a way of outreaching and offering the UC students
to network with other students dealing with similar issues on their
campus,” said Alicia Schwartz, a staff member of UCSA.
Months of preparation have resulted in an unexpected and
overwhelming 500 registered students.
The Students of Color Conference Committee will continue to hold
on-site registration today after 7 p.m. at Viewpoint Lounge in
Ackerman. There is a $30 charge to cover the cost of food.
“(The conference) is one of the only times of the year in
the state that unites students of color from all over the UC system
to discuss what can be done to make changes ““ particularly in
the creation of higher education policies,” said Jenny Wood,
general representative of the Undergraduate Students Association
Council at UCLA.
Some of the workshops are designed to teach students different
tactics that work best at the university level for creating change
and becoming a leader in that community.
“Given the current socioeconomic climate where the number
of students of color is getting smaller and smaller, it is most
important now more than ever to take initiative in change so that
we can create a university atmosphere that is still diverse and
equally accepting,” said Schwartz.
Claudia Garcia, political science and global studies student at
UC Santa Barbara, plans to attend the conference in hopes of
becoming more aware of the issues concerning people of color.
“I don’t know of all the issues that students of
color must face. I’m hoping that this conference will
enlighten me on those issues that students from other campuses have
to face,” said Garcia.