Desde the Chicana/o Latina/o Archives
The first large group of Chicanas/os arrived in Pullman on September 1967. These students were the sons and daughters of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. They came from places such as Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, and Texas were fieldwork was the only source of income. At that time forty-one Chicanas/os participated in the first minority program at WSU: HEP (High School Equivalency Program). Two years later, five HEP students enrolled at WSU along with four Chicana/o high school graduates. The 1969-1970 school year marked an important historical presence of Chicana/os at WSU. A group of Chicanas/os discussed the creation of a Chicano Studies Program. It was not until Thursday, May 28, 1970 that Chicano Studies was approved by the faculty senate of WSU. Immediately after its approval, a group of dedicated Chicanas/os spent countless hours creating courses and job descriptions for professors and administrators. Fall of 1970 was the first semester that Chicano Studies began to offer courses in the College of Liberal Arts. Summer of 1970, Mr. Reymundo Marin was appointed the first director of Chicano Studies. That same summer, Mr. Rudy Cruz was appointed the first minority Assistant Director of Admissions. In collaboration with two Chicana/o, two Black, and two Native American Students, Mr. Cruz developed the first minority recruitment program. By March of 1971, approximately 200 multicultural students had been recruited; about 90 of these students were Chicanas/os.
That same year (1971), Santiago Estrada created the Chicano Counseling Center to better serve the Chicana/o Community student population at WSU. He also served as the first counselor of the center. In addition to the creation of the center, he also formed the Chicano Faculty Commission and the Chicano Graduate Student Association. As the current counselor and on behalf of Chicana/o Latina/o Alumni, Profes, and current students, we are committed to keep moving, “El Movimiento,” con Humildad y Respeto despite the on-going racialized struggles de la Comunidad.
- Francisco Tamayo, Retention Counselor, 2001-2008
