Vida Newspaper, Volume 2, Issue 2 - October 1974

OflOOC VIDA TUCATtIPOCA 4od of C4«&tt<ert LOYIOLA MARYMO’UNT UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT M.E.Ch.A. OF CHICANO STUDIES OCTOBER, 1974 VOLUME П — NO. 2 LMU, Fort Knox Miracle Worker? Por Constancia Lechuga “NO!” Says Mr. Larry Brax¬ ton, LMU’S new Financial Aid Director, at a recent VIDA in¬ terview. The truth of the mat¬ ter is, because of inflation, fe¬ deral cut-backs and increased educational cost, LMU Finan¬ cial Aid is really feeling the pinch. Braxton states that students and parents have several basic misconceptions about financial and which need clarification. First, “We are not miracle workers, as is commonly thought.” Second, “People ac¬ tually think we are sitting on Fort Knox and that we have arbitrary power to dispense un¬ limited funds.” On the contrary, “Financial aid money is very limited, and even if we were sitting on Fort Knox, which I assure you we aren’t, the deter¬ minant of who gets money and how much, would still be a stu¬ dents NEED!” Braxton would like to see a greater understanding among fa¬ culty, students and parents, as concerns the role of the finan¬ cial aid office. He would also like to see a change in attitude of the Federal executive office toward funding of post second¬ ary education. “Unfortunately one of the government’s strate¬ gies for fighting inflation is to cut down on educational funding. This hurts post-secondary insti¬ tutions.” President Ford has al¬ ready asked that money allo¬ cated by Congress for education, be impounded. “So we can ex¬ pect even further cut-backs.” Private institutions such as Loyola will be hit the hardes by these cutbacks. State colleges and Universities will be mucl better off. This financial squeeze has already been passed on tc the student in the form of in¬ creased educational costs. This year LMU Financial Aid was funded at less than V2 о f last year’s level by the govern, ment. The University commu¬ nity had to increase its contri¬ bution in an effort to make up the financial aid deficit caused by federal cutbacks- Financial aid resources are still below last year’s level. Despite the shot in the arm from the University Community, Braxton states that the NEED for financial aid this year, has increased 22% across the board. This in effect means that as compared to last year, there is less money and more need. As previously stated financial aid is granted according to need level. Those who have high need levels will continue to receive financal aid packages of; grant, loan and work study period Brax¬ ton pointed out that often time, students turn in their financial aid applications and PCS form, late. The deadline for financial aid is MARCH 1ST. A late appli¬ cation hurts a student’*s chances for receiving as much financial aid as his or her need level warrants. “By the time late ap¬ plications are received, most of the available funds have been (Contin'ued on Page 2) DIA DE LA RAZiA celebration at the LMU campus was highlighted by a Ballet Folklorico performance. Proceeds from the day's events donated by MECHfl to the Hondu¬ ran victims of Hurricane "FIFT'. Chicana Symposium: A Perspective Of Oneself For Christina Chacon “To each the time will come when you won’t make it alone.... when you will face the end, to either win or lose. Those ties with the Chicano Movement will come to help. The time will come when you will have to take a stand for what you stand for.” The above quote by Doctora Graciela Limon highlighted the Chicana Symposium, first in a series of four being planned for the remaining year. The event took place on the evening of September 22nd in the cozy sur¬ roundings of the Chicano Libra¬ ry. The idea of a “symposium” was given birth by Chicanas Norma Bleecker, Lucha Mencha. ca, Mary Salinas, and Dra. Gra¬ ciela Limon. Asked why the name “symposium” was used. Miss Limon replied that to the Greeks it was a social gathering to freely exchange ideas and drink some wine. The purpose then of the Chicana Symposium was for Chicanas (and Chicanos) to get together and voice their ideas regarding the Chicano mo¬ vement and the Chicano him¬ self (and of course, a little wine to stimulate thought). This particular symposium opened with the question, “What (Contin'ued on Page 2)