A Tale of Two Latino Student Groups

When Jorge Roman transferred to UC Berkeley two years ago, he immediately sought out Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan or MEChA, a national student organization formed to stimulate pride in Chicano culture and history.

He had been involved in protests and grassroots organizing at his old college's MEChA in Southern California, but was hoping UC Berkeley-reputed for its student activism-would have more to offer.

However, instead of debating over which MEChA events to attend, he found himself torn between two separate MEChA groups on campus-Berkeley MEChA and MEChA de UC Berkeley.

"I was bewildered," he said.

Eventually Roman chose to join Berkeley MEChA, the nationally-recognized group of the two, because it followed the national organization's guiding documents.

Although both groups espouse unity among Chicano youth, many students like Roman are caught choosing between the two politically active Chicano student groups-the legacy of a split in the original MEChA five years ago.

Both groups work on similar issues-campaigning on political affairs, and teaching ethnic studies to high school students-and they join for Raza events.

But there has been no formal communication between the two camps since 1998, members of both groups said.

That year, nine MEChA members splintered off to form Berkeley MEChA.

Members of the new group said outside organizations were infiltrating MEChA at the expense of its core principles.

MEChA's involvement with OLIN, a Bay Area high school organization that staged school walkouts for school funding, raised eyebrows among the nine members, said UC Berkeley graduate student Roberto Hernandez, who was co-chair at the time.

"People who became Berkeley MEChA were against walkouts," he said. "(They) took it more as in engaging in walkouts was to say we were anti-education."

The splinter group said the

organization had abandoned the three founding documents, including the Philosophy of MEChA which has a specific section condemning infiltration from outside organizations.

Today, many of those who were in MEChA during the split have graduated, leaving the legacy of a division to younger students.

"Now you've got younger people that weren't even here when the split happened who are more zealous about maintaining the split without really having a thorough understanding of the complexities of the split," Hernandez said.

Berkeley Mecha members thought the division necessary to reclaim what they believed was MEChA's original mission, Roman said.

However, the split has lingering effects on both MEChAs today.

For some it creates the image of a fractured Latino community on campus.

"It makes it look like its OK for the rest of the raza community to be divided," said UC Berkeley senior Jorge Morales.

Ricardo Valencia, a member of MEChA de UC Berkeley, said the division "defies the mission of MEChA," which is supposed to unify the Latino community.

"It's disheartening," Valencia said.

And it can weaken a group's clout, said senior Monica Fernandez, advisor of MEChA de UC Berkeley.

"When we're trying to work in the community both on campus and off it discredits us because we're not unified," Fernandez said.

Roman agreed, saying that the division does "stifle activism."

But for some Berkeley MEChA members, the split created a niche they now find comfortable.

Internal co-chair Alma Sarinana said she joined Berkeley MEChA because it was one of the only politically active groups on campus.

"It gives me the opportunity to go out into the community and address many issues, issues that affect ‘la raza,'" Sarinana said.

Nevertheless, both groups have continued to work within the Latino community, but on different paths.

Berkeley MEChA participates in a pro-affirmative action coalition, supports legislation for immigrant rights and holds an annual conference for training high school students in ethnic studies.

Mecha de UC Berkeley sponsors Chicano cultural events and held a celebration dinner for university janitors last year. They also teach ethnic studies courses at local high schools.

Despite the separation, there have been some efforts to make amends.

"Several members within MEChA de UCB have always been willing to build unity especially with Berkeley MEChA," Valencia said. "Unfortunately mass dialogue has never really taken place."

Roman said, however, past attempts to confront the issue have intimidated many members of his group. MEChA de UC Berkeley members have shown up unannounced to national conventions, only to be turned away, Roman said.

"It kind of makes my chapter protect themselves even more," he said.

However, Valencia still has hope.

"It's going to take critical dialogue among both organizations as well as input from the outside Chicano-Latino community," he said.

Though it is unclear what the future will hold for the two Mechas, Valencia said working on similar issues is a step in the right direction.

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