What a touching day today at the Latinx graduation that had to get pulled together in 6 weeks because Senate Bill 17 made cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that resulted in the cancellation of our students' graduation ceremony.
SB 17 is part of a larger scorched earth policy agenda that is very racist and fearful of a browning America. All should read mine and Dr. Zamora’s piece on the matter: Zamora, E. & Valenzuela, A. (2023, Feb. 13). "Anti-DEI Law Implementation Has Been a Disaster," Texas Observer. As today's ceremony suggests, there's nothing to fear and everything to gain from a multi-ethnic and multiracial democracy—toward which we are abundantly poised—if we can only hold on to it.
Still, today we celebrated at the Austin Independent School District's beautiful Performing Arts Center, thanks in great part to student leaders associated with the organization, Latino Community Affairs, namely, Katherine Ospina, Luis Santos, and Liany Serrano Oviedo, as well as to Austin City Council Member Chito Vela and National LULAC that provided significant funding support for this event. The Texas Exes made possible an afternoon celebration for the parents and community.
Suzanne Gamboa with NBC Latino did her part, too, by bringing awareness to the predicament the students were in by informing everyone of their Go Fund Me campaign. They raised more funds than they needed such that the rest will go toward next year's graduation.
Incidentally, 70 percent of those graduating are first-generation students attending college, the overwhelming majority thusly from humble origins. How shameful for UT and the legislature to set up barriers for students like these when they are our best and brightest, not to mention our future as a state and nation. That they even pulled this graduation off to begin with is a testament to their will and power as members of Gen Z. Sí se puede! Yes we can!
My husband, UT History Professor Dr. Emilio Zamora and I had the distinct pleasure of shaking the graduates' hands and sharing some remarks at the event, alongside student presenters, and a rousing keynote address by National LULAC President Domingo Garcia.
I just learned this evening that all of the students present today will get a free, one-year membership to LULAC! I look forward to seeing our students at our LULAC National Convention in Las Vegas this June!
I'm beyond thrilled that KXAN journalist Sarah Al-Shaikh honored me by using several of the photos I took today. Enjoy!
-Angela Valenzuela
UT Austin students raise money for Latinx graduation cancelled by DEI cuts
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| UT Austin students raised thousands of dollars to put on a Latinx graduation that the university previously cancelled. (Photo: Angela Valenzuela) |
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new state law left a group of Latino University of Texas students scrambling to make sure their graduation ceremony tradition went on as planned on Thursday.
The university canceled several minority graduation events it previously hosted for years. A new Texas law banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, which cut funding for the ceremony.
Faculty and students said Thursday’s graduation sent a statement to the university: They’ll do it without their help.
“All of us share the same culture. It’s kind of sort of an
unspoken, just bond that all of us have.”
ANDRES AYALA, UT GRADUATE
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| Andres Ayala |
‘We persevered and we’re here’
Hundreds of Latino students, professors and their families celebrated the Latinx graduation.
“We persevered and we’re here,” said UT graduate Andres Ayala. “We want to commemorate us and our experience as Latinos.”
For many of them, they’re the first in their family to get a college degree.
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| UT Austin students raised thousands of dollars to put on a Latinx graduation that the university previously cancelled. (Photo: Angela Valenzuela) |
“All of the individual parents shouting for them was the
sweetest thing ever.”
KATHERINE OSPINA, UT GRADUATE
Ospina and Ayala said the Latinx graduation has been a tradition at the university.
They said it’s the only program in the whole commencement week that has a translation, which can help parents fully experience the ceremony.
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| Katherine Ospina & Angela Valenzuela |
The cancellation
Three months ago the university cancelled this graduation and other minority graduation events as well.
A new Texas law banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities, which cut funding for the ceremony.
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