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Hispanic Activist Wants Chicano, Native American Studies Classes Censored

Associated Press

   RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO - A New Mexico Hispanic leader upset about the
   removal of Spanish conquistador monuments is pushing for New Mexico to
   end its support for Chicano and Native American Studies.

   In a letter to University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes, New
   Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens executive director
   Ralph Arellanes wrote that the state's largest university should
   dismantle both programs because they teach Latino students "self-hate"
   about their Spanish heritage.

   Arellanes, who signed that letter in his role of New Mexico LULAC
   executive director and chair of the Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico,
   said he has collected stories of Hispanic students "leaving classrooms
   crying" after being told by professors that Spanish conquistadors
   participated in genocide against Indigenous populations.

   "The Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico, New Mexico LULAC and our many
   expert historians in New Mexico request a meeting with you to discuss
   our concerns," Arellanes wrote. "We will be calling for the removal of
   these courses and programs that are teaching our New Mexico students
   this kind of hate and complete propaganda."

   Irene Vasquez, the director of the Chicana and Chicano Studies
   Department, said she has heard of no reports of students complaining
   about courses taught nor crying after classes.

   "It's incredulous," Vasquez said. "This is not a serious criticism. But
   we must be doing something right because we are growing." According to
   university numbers, enrollment in Chicano studies classes on campus has
   jumped from 96 in 2011 to 707 last fall.

   Arellanes has previously called for the firing of Vasquez for
   overseeing a department that has taught courses looking at New Mexico's
   history critically. He also has attacked her for being from California.

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