Hispanic center seems to have life
Fate of other UA minority resources remains unclear in wake of merger plan

By Aaron Mackey and L. Anne Newell
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 06.12.2009
UA officials apparently have reversed course and won't close a resource center for Hispanic students, though the fate of the university's other minority centers remains less clear.
While officials with the University of Arizona wouldn't confirm the decision, students and staffers as well as faculty and community members quickly spread word of it, many joyfully texting, e-mailing and calling one another throughout the day.
UA officials had planned to consolidate six minority student centers on campus to save $1 million. The centers provide mentoring, advising and life-skills support for black, Asian, Hispanic and American Indian students. The merger would have combined those four centers, as well as the women's resource center and another program that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students with the social-justice center.
It was unclear Thursday if the other centers would still be consolidated, or if they'd remain open individually as well.
It also was unclear if resources would be restored to the Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs Center. Staff positions already were cut and its director was working on a short contract. Those who remained had been preparing for a move and everything was stacked in boxes.
University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Club President Humberto Stevens confirmed the decision, though he said he hadn't talked directly to UA President Robert Shelton about it.
"We applaud the efforts toward reconsideration," he said.
The apparent reversal follows several meetings and numerous other efforts urging Shelton and other UA officials to change their minds. Stevens said a protest march had been planned for next week, though now it's being reworked as a celebration.
Roberto Rodriguez, an assistant professor of Mexican-American/Raza Studies at the UA, also confirmed the apparent decision, saying word spread rapidly through the community.
Those involved understood the economic hardships the university is facing, he said, which made the change in course even more remarkable. State budget cuts have stripped $77 million from the UA since last summer.
"It appears that the centro will remain open, and that has to say something very positive both about the university and, equally or more important, the will of the community," Rodriguez said. "I think that President Shelton heard what we had to say. He realized why the centro is important."
Still, those involved were hesitant to fully celebrate until more details emerge.
"We don't know what the final decision is about anything, so it's difficult to say what's going to happen exactly," Rod-riguez said.
The thought was echoed by Brenda Muñoz, a graduate student in Mexican-American Studies who often visited the center and praised it as an important academic and cultural support network for students.
"I'm overwhelmed and extremely excited the center appears to be staying open, but there are so many questions that remain to be answered," she said.
"Everybody has the same questions. We need to know more details."
Socorro Carrizosa, the center's director, wouldn't comment and referred calls to Melissa Vito, vice president for student affairs. Neither Vito nor Shelton immediately responded to interview requests. UA spokesman Johnny Cruz couldn't confirm the change, he wrote in an e-mail.
Messages left with leaders of the black, Asian and American Indian cultural centers also were not immediately returned.
Contact L. Anne Newell at lnewell@azstarnet.com.