By Erasmus Baxter
Many students were shocked that Western’s campus remained open through the worst of the snow during second week of February. They had to deal with un-cleared and slippery sidewalks, ice and ankle-deep snow. For students with movement disabilities, conditions were especially difficult.
The Ethnic Student Center’s Cultural Education Coordinator, Alan Alatorre-Barajas, sees this as an example of how having diverse voices and perspectives in positions of power benefits the entire population.
“There might be needs you wouldn’t think of trying to meet, because you don’t have to ever think what someone else might be going through, [and] because you’re just unaware of it,” Alatorre-Barajas said. “If you don’t know, you don’t know.”
Helping empower these voices is the goal of the civic engagement panel Alatorre-Barajas is hosting. The panel will be held on Thursday, February 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Viking Union 552.
The panelists will be:
- Abby Ramos – The current Resource and Outreach Programs (ROP) director, and former Associated Students Vice President for Diversity. Ramos is currently a student member of the university’s Board of Trustees.
- Aleyda Cervantes – The current Associated Students Vice President for Diversity. Cervantes has also worked within the Associated Students before, an aspect Alatorre-Barajas thinks is important.
- Victoria Matey – The Ethnic Student Center (ESC) Club Event Coordinator, and the president of Blue Group. Matey has been involved with the city council in working on a sanctuary city ordinance.
- Ana Ramirez – A member of Blue Group, Ramirez has also served on a legislative committee, according to Alatorre-Barajas.
- Michelle Urrea – This is Urrea’s first time getting involved with something of the sort on campus, and will provide the “novice voice,” according to Alatorre-Barajas.
The panel sprang from a discussion among the people of color caucus at Western Lobby Day about how to get more students of color to participate in Lobby Day. Students of color could be intimidated by lobbying, or come from countries where governments are corrupt or dangerous, among other issues, Alatorre-Barajas said.
He hopes that people sharing their experiences might encourage others to attend Lobby Day and inspire them to get involved in other ways, such as by applying for a variety of AS positions.
“Hopefully [it will] get students to apply and attempt to run, or help out with other people’s campaigns,” he said. “Because usually when people [of color] apply they tend to apply for ESC positions and then don’t think about other positions in the AS they might be competent for.”
Alatorre-Barajas emphasizes that the focus of the panel is about more than just lobbying.
“That’s why we’re calling it civic engagement. To get students more involved with other forms of activism or politics,” Alatorre-Barajas said. “They might notice that Bellingham might not have certain resources, and they can go and advocate and do something, effect a small change, at least, in their community.”
The event’s location points, in part, to the need for expanded lobbying and representation of students of color. One of the issues that students will be lobbying for at ESC Lobby Day will be the Multicultural Center package to expand the ESC.
“[The panel] could’ve been in the ESC, but it’s not big enough,” Alatorre-Barajas said.
There will be food and drinks including vegan and gluten free options.