Vida Newsletter, Volume 4 - November 6, 1989

Would gou like to be dead? No, you зад? How could you not when being dead i3 somethingcelebratedonceeveryyear? The celebration of new life became a tradition many уеагз ago and i3 celebrated on Racism Forum Held The President's Select Committee on Minorities held two very informative open forums, Wednesday night, October 11th, and Thursday afternoon, October 12th. November 2, All Soul's Day. The celebration is known аз "Dia de los Muertos" or “Day of the Dead." True, the death of a person dear to из i3 painful, but the life of their зои1 afterwards is one in which they are finally fulfilled, havi ng met thei r creator. It is for this reason that the people of Mexico and Central America look at death from a different aspect. Physical death is not something to overshadow the new life the person has been given; the eternal life of their soul. This way of thinking stems back to Mayan and Aztec cultures. Death i3 an aspect of life which i3 not езсараЫе therefore we must not look at it with remorse, we mu3t view it as an integral part of our lives. Both forums were conducted in a very orderly manner. Speakers approached the microphone with their perceptions, complaint?, experiences, and expectations on concerns such as academics, school life, financial aid, and even maintenance. Speakers were given a maximum of five minutes to express their feelings. In most cases they were asked questions by the committee members . The Wednesday night forum was very well attended, crowding the small auditorium with a plethora of multi-ethnic students, some staff, faculty and a few administrators. Approximately 230 people were present. Ironically enough, Wednesday night's President's Select Committee on Minorities, was absent of Fr. Loughran, the President. At Thursday's forum, both he and Lane Bove were present observing for a short time. Feelings, attitudes, concerns, and anger filled the air Wednesday night and touched both the Committee as well as the audience. One of the concerns brought up was the desire for a more racially integrated work force in all departments, cont- pg. 2