Self-segregation, accusations only hurt campus minorities

In her oped column "Finding a Place for Chicano Students, Their Culture" (Feb. 18, 2003), Vanessa de la Torre raises an important concern about the lack of Chicano studies courses at Princeton. However, Ms. de la Torre makes several claims about Latinos at Princeton that are inconsistent and downright insulting.

First of all, in comparing Chicanos to African Americans, Ms. de la Torre groups all Latinos with Chicanos, and continues to use the two terms interchangeably throughout the rest of her column. Ms. de la Torre neglects to define the term, which fails to dispel notions that all people who speak Spanish in the United States can be grouped under the umbrella terms of Hispanic, Latino or, even worse, Spanish or Mexican. (A quick primer: Chicanos are Americans of Mexican descent; "Hispanic" refers collectively to all Spanish speakers, but connotes Spanish descent; Latinos are people originating from Latin America; and Spanish and Mexican describe people from Spain and Mexico, respectively.) Therefore, when Ms. de la Torre refers to "our population" as being underrepresented on Princeton's campus, it is unclear whether she is referring to all Latinos or just Chicanos. While she later identifies herself as Chicano, Ms. de la Torre again complicates her argument when she refers to the establishment of a "Chicano/Latino Studies program." Perhaps before seeking "reaffirmation of our identity," Ms. de la Torre should clarify exactly which identity she is talking about.

Furthermore, Ms. de la Torre's accusations of "sellouts" on campus who "checked 'Hispanic' because their Spanish surname let them get away with it, but, like, totally don't, you know, like, associate," is not only extremely insulting but counterproductive. My last name is Gómez, and I guess since I checked Hispanic on my application and don't "associate" — whatever that means — I not only speak like a Valley Girl, but I have completely discarded my culture, history and language. In fact, having being raised in a Spanish speaking household, I treasure my Colombian heritage, speak fluent Spanish, love to dance to Carlos Vives, Juanes, and Bacilos, studied in Chile last spring and plan on living in Latin America next year. However, being Latino does not give me an excuse to self-segregate with other Latinos any more than it gives me an excuse to self-segregate with other males, Virginians, Catholics, seniors, politics/LAS majors, varsity athletes or Cap and Gown members — all groups that I could also be pigeonholed into or, as Ms. de la Torre classifies it, the "elite."

Chicano culture is distinct and unique, with a beautiful and rich history, and Princeton students should not be denied the opportunity to learn about it. Nevertheless, rhetoric like Ms. de la Torre's column only serves to further alienate underrepresented groups at Princeton from those who, in her words, are not as "needy" and seek to "identify with the powerful." I applaud Ms. de la Torre's efforts in expanding the Chicano presence both in campus life and in the curriculum, but self-segregation, baseless accusations and a "we versus them" mentality leads to a vicious cycle that can only have negative results.