[ Golden Gater Online - October 23, 1997 ]
FRED WOODHAMS
State News (Michigan State U.)
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State University police removed about six members of a Chicano/Latino group from the MSU president's residence Tuesday after they began demonstrating at a reception given for student leaders.
Members of the group boycotted the reception given at 6 p.m. by MSU President M. Peter McPherson.
Rosa Salas, minister of education for Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan (MEXA), said her group was holding the "counter-reception/barbecue" on the Cowles House lawn to protest the lack of support McPherson gives to members of the Chicano/Latino community.
Salas' group distributed flyers to those trying to enter Cowles House. Some members of the group were invited to the reception.
"This reception is the epitome of tokenism," the flyer said. "President M. Peter McPherson has been nonexistent, or downright not helpful, on minority or progressive student issues. Yet now he thinks he can invite us over to his house for one hour and make up for all the time he's been unsupportive!"
"This is why we're hosting a counter-reception where all students of good conscience will join us," Salas said.
Lee June, vice president for student affairs and services, said the hour-long reception at Cowles House, the president's residence, is given to improve interaction between the administration and student groups.
"This is an annual event where the president invites the student leaders from a variety of student organizations so we can get to know them better," said June, who is also assistant provost for student academic support services and multicultural issues.
Salas said the demonstration was a "total success."
About 30 to 40 people joined in the counter-reception, while more than 80 people, including representatives of ASMSU, the Residence Hall Association, hall governments and various minority groups, went to the reception.
At the reception, guests ate dinner and mingled with McPherson and about seven other university administrators.
During the reception, McPherson, who had no comment on the protest, spoke to the student leaders about binge drinking and creating a better academic environment. However, during his remarks, MEXA members began pounding on the front doors of Cowles House, chanting, "The people united will never be defeated." From then on, visitors at Cowles House used a side door to leave.
A few minutes after that, MEXA members with invitations were allowed into Cowles House and read a statement.
They again criticized McPherson for not adequately supporting the grape boycott, affirmative action and Chicano studies.
"We will not eat cheese balls with the oppressors," MEXA members shouted just before the police escorted them outside of Cowles House and back to their counter-reception.
MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said he wanted MEXA members with invitations to come in and said they were removed because of their "disruptive behavior".
"It's unfair to the other students on this occasion," Denbow said. "We went out and made sure everyone who had an invitation got in."
Vipul Gupta, a board member of the Owen Graduate Association, criticized MEXA members for rowdy behavior.
"Whatever their message is, if they want to be heard they need to communicate in an effective and rational manner," he said. "The president did try to listen to them but they were screaming and talking irrationally."
However, Shay Wares, a member of the Holden Hall Black Caucus, MEXA and the North American Indian Student Organization, supported MEXA and chose to boycott the reception. She said she was upset that she was not initially let in.
"They went and got Dr. Lee June to escort us in," Wares said. "I thought that was rude because no one else had to be escorted in."
Salas said students should be able to voice their opinions in front of McPherson.
"I wasn't willing to compromise my beliefs for the president," she said. "He only wants students in there on his own terms."
However, W. Chad Smith, ASMSU Student Assembly chairperson, said he went to reception to help all students.
"I think it's often easier to change things when you're sitting at the table with those who make decisions," Smith said. "ASMSU would be more than willing if approached to look at this. The debate about the multicultural center would be good for student government to have. We might agree with and lobby for them."
McPherson said the administration and student leaders need to work together to solve problems such as alcohol abuse and improving academics at MSU.
"I think those are two things we need to discuss on a campus-wide basis because it's not a unilateral decision on my part," McPherson said. "I think it's something we all need to talk about."
At the reception, McPherson spoke with members of the North American Indian Student Organization about Columbus Day and the group's problems with celebrating the day.
"This is a good exchange of views," McPherson said after speaking with the group. "I'm glad to talk to students."
[ Golden Gater - October 23, 1997 ]