contents - Current Students

contents
2
3
Editors Note
La Voz Staff
MUSICA
4
5
Inside Look: Camilla
Que Es Samba?
CORAZON
6
El Libertador, El Supremo Director y el Gobernador
7 The Secret Ingredients
8 The Hidden Contry: Paraguay
9 Los Viejos Y Los Jovenes
CULTURA
11 Where are the latinos?
13 Comida y Familia
15 Native Tonuge
17 Our Dream is to Fulfill Thiers
EL JUEGO
19 Firm Roots
REFLEJO
23 La Casita
25 Discriminating Diversity
COCINA
27
28
Alto Cinco’s Tomato Union Salsa
Cream Cheese & Jelly Empanadas
29
Puerto Rico: Mi isla, Mi inspiration
1 | La Voz Spring 2011
Editor’s Note
Whoa! Where did the time
go? Is it really April already?
My four years at SU have really flown by. I sit at my desk
and stare endlessly at the
pictures I took throughout
college. I could have sworn
I looked the same, minus the
occasional haircut and dyeing of the hair but wow, my
pictures truly portray a slow
transformation.
Putting the magazine you
have in front of you was a
challenge. Overcoming the
disease commonly known, as
senioritis was a hurdle. Symptoms of senioritis include:
lack of motivation, sleep loss,
weekend binge eating and
drinking, living in the library
and deliria.
Knowing that graduation
is a mere month or so away,
making daily responsibilities
appear meaningless. Everything seems to go out the
window. But when it comes
down to it, no matter how
dreadful the task may seem,
it still manages to get done.
This issue of La Voz is all
about getting in touch with
our roots. Roots are support
systems providing nourishment and firm establishment.
The roots of the Latino culture
are deep, intricate and thick.
These firm roots make the culture what it is today: diverse,
colorful and spicy.
It is my pleasure to give
you this issue that is a testament to my senioritis, hard
work and passion.
Espero que lo disfrutes
Guramrit Khalsa
Guramrit Khalsa
La Voz Spring 2011 | 2
Musica
Inside Look: Camila
by Ghilianie Soto
la voz
Guramrit Khalsa
Editor-in-Chief
Cassandra Laboy
Managing Editor
Julissa Montalvo
Creative Director
Christine Oh
Features Editor
Ghilianie Soto
Senior Editor
Francis Fernandez
Assistant Editor
Jada Wong
Copy Editor
Writers:
Ghillianie Soto, Chantel Morel, Luis Cadavid, Misaell Cabral, Cristina Nadal, Jessica Santana, Maria Sanfeliu,
Jennifer Molina, Jose R. Marti, Cassandra Laboy,
Alaina Mallette, Marcel Garcia, Jada Wong, Christine Oh
3 | La Voz Spring 2011
brownplanet.com
Camila, the Mexican soft rock trio
made up of Pablo Hurtado, Samuel
“Samo” Parra and Mario Domm, has generated quite a buzz in the Latin music industry since their creation in 2005. What
makes this group unique is that they
don’t just combine the ordinary sounds
of cumbia drums, electric bass guitar and
guira. Camila provides soothing sounds
for both men and women, which is not
easy to come by in Latin music.
With sounds reminiscent of Carlos Santana mixed with a bit of Aventura’s lyrical
scheme, the music doesn’t make you want
to get up and start swaying in a two-step.
Instead, Camila allows its listeners to sit
back, relax and go on a journey.
At the 11th annual Latin Grammy Awards
in October last year, Camila beat Latin music
heavyweights such as Alejandro Sanz for the
prestigious Album of the Year award with their
second studio album Dejarte De Amar. The
group also snagged both Best Record and
Song of the Year with Mientes.
Camila, which means “close to God,”
announced in February that they want
their next album to be bilingual and plans
to re-record Dejate de Amar in Italian. With
Camila going overseas, they just might be
the Mexican version of the Spice Girls and
take over the world one romantic lullaby at
a time.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 4
Musica
Corazon
Que es Samba?
by Chantel Morel
Samba is a well known yet loosely
used word among people, but what exactly
is this Samba? All people seem to know is
that samba has to do with Latin culture.
Samba, a Brazilian dance and musical
genre actually originated in Africa. In the
nineteenth century, the word samba referred to different types of music produced
by African slaves. It forms from regional
batuque a type of music from Cape Verde. At this time former slaves from Canada
migrated to Rio de Janeiro. They came in
contact with regional batuque and incorporated other musical genres such as polka,
the maxixe and the lundu. Since then
samba, has been a huge part of the Brazilian culture. Upbeat and festive, samba incorporates
unique instruments to produce its sound. Some of these instruments consist of the
chocalho, a type of wooden instrument that
jingles; a reco-reco, an instrument you play
by scraping and pandeiro a type of hand
drum. Traditionally many string instruments
are played in samba music. As a dance samba is very lively and energetic. There are around 5 different ways
to dance samba some of which require
partners and a combination of steps. It usually starts off with slow steps turning into
rapid movements. During events such as
carnivals, Brazilian women wear costumes
consisting of vibrant colored headdresses
and a belly dancing style outfits while
dancing samba. Since the mid 19th century samba has
continued to stay alive and maintain its
tradition. There is even a Samba National
5 | La Voz Spring 2011
Day, celebrated on December 2nd, which
started in Salvador, but eventually turned
into a national holiday. It has also become
very popular in the U.S. There are now many places that offer
dance or exercise classes in samba. Syracuse University has its own Brazilian Ensemble: Samba Laranja, a group combining vocals and drums to perform various
styles of Brazilian music, such as samba. SU also offers fitness classes at the
gym such as Zumba (an intense dance
workout), which incorporates samba into it.
This is a great way to burn some calories
while having some fun.
jezebel.com
El Libertador
El Supremo Director y el Gobernador
by Luis Cadavid
During the revolutions of the 19th
century in Latin America there were three
key figures: Simón Bolivar “El Libertador
de America”, Bernardo O’Higgins “El Supremo Dictador de Chile” and José de San
Martín “El Gobernador del Cuyo”. All three
men were joined by ideals of equality, freedom and independence, movements that
gained strength all over the world.
Don Simón Bolivar was born in Venezuela in 1783 into a well off family. In 1813 he
was given command of a garrison in Nueva
Granada (modern day Colombia) with which
he betrayed the Spanish monarchy and
marched against Venezuela where by 1814
he had liberated the country from Spanish
control. He had raised enough manpower
and resources to move back into the mainland and start a new war against the Spanish
crown once again. After a series of successful battles, he liberated Colombia, Ecuador
and parts of Peru. Don Bernardo O’Higgins was a native of
Chile and the illegitimate son of the Viceroy
of Peru. Since his early years he was educated by some of the best scholars in Lima,
Peru. After his father’s death O’Higgins went
to England and Spain to continue his education where he learned about liberalism and
gained national pride. After his return to Chile
in 1810 he joined the revolts against the local government.This fueled a series of bloody
conflicts between the royalists and those
fighting for the independence of Chile. History has remembered him as a brave yet reckless commander with little to no knowledge of
military tactics, which cost him several battles
later in his career. By 1823 after liberating Chile
and Argentina in bloody civil wars, he left Chile
for the last time and joined Don Bolivar in the
Peruvian campaign as a civilian. He was not
recognized as a revolutionary until his death in
1842 in Lima, Peru.
Don Jose de San Martin was the most
important revolutionary figure in Argentina.
By 1812 he was in Argentina training the
Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, believed
to be the best-trained unit during the revolutionary years. After the capture of the
Spanish king, King Charles IV, Don Jose
de San Martin and others rose against the
government and established themselves
in power. He commanded the Army of the
Andes to liberate Chile, after Don Bernardo
O’Higgins, a fellow soldier and friend who
asked for his help after being defeated by
Chilean forces. After his triumphal march
into Santiago in 1817 he re-grouped his
forces and initiated diplomatic relations
with the people of Peru.
These men spent their entire lives fighting
to liberate their people, giving our countries
the freedoms they indulge in today. These
revolutionary ideas still stand strong in the
minds of those who are looking for a better
future for their people.
http://digitalquarters.net
La Voz Spring 2011 | 6
Corazon
Corazon
The Secret Ingredients
The
Hidden
Country:
by Cristina Nadal
How is it possible to be a Latina with
brown skin, straight hair and light
eyes? Or have a cousin that can pass
as a European supermodel? The
Guaraní might be an unfamiliar
word to many of you, but to the people of the Republic of Paraguay, it has
three important meanings. It refers to
the indigenous people of Paraguay, its
currency and one of the two official
languages of the country (the other
being Spanish.) Paraguay is almost the same size
as California, located in South America and surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia
and Argentina. It is sometimes referred to as the Corazón de América
(heart of America) given its central
location in South America.
The country’s name comes from
the Paraguay River, which divides the
country into two regions. Most of the
country’s eight million inhabitants live
in the eastern region and only about
three percent of the population lives
in the western region. It is also one of
Latin America’s most homogeneous
populations since 95 percent of the
country’s population is mestizo, a mix
of Spanish and Indigenous.
The country is rich in natural resources such as timber, iron ore, manganese and limestone and is currently
the world’s largest exporter of hydroelectric power. In fact, the largest energy generating facility in the world, the
Itaipu Dam, is on Paraguayan soil.
What truly makes up a Latino?
by Misaell Cabral
differences in appearance are engraved in our Latino blood, carrying
a complex history, which we should
be proud of. European Influences:
Besides the enslavement and massacre
of the indigenous, Europeans brought art, literature
and political practices to Latino societies. Many of
them look to European countries as models of government and construction of hierarchy of classes. The Americas became a breeding ground and the
birthplace of a new culture, the Latino culture, in
which African, Indigenous and European blood
all mixed beautifully. Everything from last names
to music and food have roots in these three. So
next time you notice the wide range of physical
traits that compromises a Latino, remember that
although we are not all the same, we all carry the
same history. Indigenous Influences:
Christopher Columbus and fellow European explorers mistakenly landed on the island of Hispañiola,
off the coast of Central America, en route to India.
These explorers “discovered” vast amounts of resources such as sugar, rice and tobacco that were
seen as luxurious in European countries. The need
for these valuables and myths like the “City of Gold,”
led to the enslavement and massacre of the indigenous. The genocide and colonization of natives
spread throughout the Caribbean eventually reaching the mainland of the Americas.
The European settlers needed manpower
to cultivate the land and extract as many cash crops
as possible. As a result, the African slave trade was
born in which African families were stripped from their
homeland. During the 16th and 19th centuries, nearly
12 million slaves were shipped to the Americas.
7 | La Voz Spring 2011
African Influences: African customs undeniably left an imprint
on Latin American culture. As Africans cultivated
the field for European settlers, the language being
used started to change. The blending of words and
phrases eventually gave birth to a new language,
most notably the Creole language in Haiti that
takes into account a mixture of Spanish, French
and native African tongue. Their influences reaches
out to dances and music as well. The rhythm and
the drums used in African dance soon became the
main influences in dances such as mambo, salsa,
reggae and calypso.
ezilon.com
If you’re thinking of visiting Paraguay, prepare yourself for a calm and
enjoyable atmosphere. Paraguay’s
climate, rich soil and water seem to
make everything grow easily year
round, producing a vast variety of
flowers and plants.
Looking for a delicious authentic
dinner? Visit one of the many parrilladas, open-air restaurants in Asunción. While sitting one can hear the
country’s most popular traditional
music, polcas and guaranías, slow
and romantic rhythms that serenade
the ears. Don’t forget to try la Sopa
Paraguaya, a soufflé made from
mashed corn, eggs, cheese, onions
and milk!
If you are looking to visit un lugar
tranquilo (a peaceful place) with a
beautiful countryside, delicious food
and traditional music, Paraguay should
be your next travel destination.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 8
Corazon
los viejos y los jovenes
Two Generations Have Never Clashed So Perfectly.
by Misael Cabral
a
s I walked into my aunt’s
crowded apartment for
our Christmas celebration, I can’t help but notice a distinct difference in the living
room between the music and the
people dancing to it. After spending
a semester at SU and fist pumping
nonstop to Edward Maya’s “Stereo
Love,” listening to some bachata
never felt so good.
But I realized that the people
dancing to the music were not my
middle aged family members who
were in need of hip replacements.
It was the kids from my generation,
who weren’t even born when these
tracks were released and who didn’t
understand the lyrics either.
I began to wonder how la generación de mami y papi really influenced us today. As Latinos we all
grew up hearing que las mujeres
son de casas y los hombres no lloran (women are of the house and
men never cry). Yet, where did these
type of mentalities come from and
how does la generacion de mami y
papi affect our generation today?
Put both groups in a crammed in-
9 | La Voz Spring 2011
ner city apartment and arguments
are inevitable. Both claim it is impossible to reach a level of compromise and understanding. Despite
the age difference, both contenders
deal with the same issues that have
haunted Latinos for decades—misrepresentation, poor educational
systems, drugs and violence. We
have all faced the same challenges
that give definition to our struggle.
In one corner, Los Viejos stand
tired and constantly shift their
weight from one foot to the other.
The women much rather cook you
a meal than go out to vote and the
men are proud, eyes dark, swollen
and heavy and refuse to seek help.
They are happy even though they
live simple lives. They tell the same
stories of their childhood at family
celebrations, each time a different
and funnier version.
Their families are their trophies,
constantly praying to Papa Dios
that their children become doctors and lawyers. They have taken a
conservative way of life, for that is
the only true way to live. Los Viejos
dance to Bonny Cepeda, Celia Cruz
y Tito Puente, not “la porquería,” that
we hear today. They firmly believe
that un mangú es una comida de
verdadera (Mangu is real food), not
an order of honey barbecue wings.
In the other corner are Los
Jóvenes, where being better, faster
and stronger is not a lifestyle but a requirement. We surpassed most of our
thing that we all strive for and failure
is something commonly seen.
These differences between
generations may not keep los viejos
y los jovenes apart, it may ironically
brings us all together. Our elders
don’t work for financial stability,
they work to make us all mujeres y
hombres de bien (men and women
of good) so that we can become
We have created
successful and buy them a house
when we strike it rich. Their strict
a dualistic style of
morals have become our comliving in which one
mandments. We have created a
generation is fightdualistic style of living in which one
ing and struggling
generation is fighting and strugfor the betterment of gling for the betterment of the other.
This beautiful companionship
the other.
is what connects children to their
parent’s level of education by the time parents and grandparents. The
we were 16. We have mastered the fact that un día de estos, nosotros
delicate art of Internet surfing, texting, vamos a comprender. (one day
watching television and babysitting we will understand). As we hit the
simultaneously. We dream of the day books even harder to finish this
we don’t have to clean the bathroom semester with a bang and call our
before mami gets home. We live a parents every day so they don’t
radical life with eccentric fashion, ex- freak out, we have to acknowlplosive music and expletive language edge that we are fighting for the
(ojalá que mami no lo oiga- hopefully success of those that have come
mom won’t hear it). Success is some- before us.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 10
Cultura
Where Are the Latinos
by Jessica Santana
W
ith over 300 recognized
student organizations, numerous mentoring/leadership opportunities and other vehicles
promoting student involvement on
campus, there is an evident lack of
participation among the Latino student body on campus. According to
the Office of Institutional Research
and Assessment, there are currently
1,327 Latino students at Syracuse
University. When speaking to current Latino students who are noted
for their noble involvement in campus organizations they suggest that
though there is a relatively large pool
of Latino students, they are not at the
forefront of student involvement.
The Division of Student Affairs
(DSA) at SU is in charge of creating
opportunities that support student
leadership, working to engage them
in meaningful activities both on and
off campus. Under DSA, there are 23
principal offices that work toward this
mission including the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and the Office of
Multicultural Affairs (OMA). Both OSA
and OMA offer leadership development programs that many Latino students should be taking advantage of. Every year, OSA offers the Stu-
11 | La Voz Spring 2011
dent Leadership Institute (SLI), a
program that is open to all sophomores and juniors who have
demonstrated leadership qualities with a GPA of at least a 3.0.
This program promotes learning
and growth through awareness of
self and others, teambuilding and
group dynamics, examining community and world issues, exercising
creative problem solving skills, and
examining personal ethics. The program is currently under the leadership of Dave Sargalski, Director of
the OSA.
Latino students such as Karina
Escano, a senior Marketing major,
participated in the program Fall
2008 and claims it had a lasting impression on her leadership skills as
she has advocated for Latino student
representation on campus. Escano
has served on the executive board for
Latino Undergraduates Creating History in America (L.U.C.H.A) as well as
the former President of the Office of
Supportive Services Student Advisory
Board. “Through the Student Leadership Institute, I learned public speaking skills and networking skills that I
use for things like table sittings where
I communicate information about my
organizations” says Escano.
When asked about Latino representation on campus, Escano asserted,“I think there is Latino representation on campus, but I feel like there
could be more. The university should
have Values Academy like they had
for the Greeks, but for general students.”
In addition to the SLI, the OMA
also sponsors a leadership program
called Wellslink, currently coordinated by Dr. Tae-Sun Kim, Associate Director of the OMA. Wellslink is a leadership program for first-year students
not already sponsored by athletics or
state/federally-funded programs. Participants of the Wellslink Leadership
program enjoy two semesters of support and upon entering their second
year, they join an exclusive community of Wellslink alumni.
Rafael Balbi, a senior Economics
major and Wellslink alum, has demonstrated outstanding leadership
while being on campus. Aside from
being the former President of the National Association of Latino Fraternal
Organizations (NALFO), he danced
for Raices Dance Troupe, the only Latino dance organization on campus
and has facilitated a number of Latino oriented workshops as a brother
of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Incorporated.
“I think Latino leadership on campus is lacking because there aren’t
enough role models to propel the
next generation of kids to want to
be the next leaders on campus. The
talent is out there, but there aren’t
enough people teaching them how
to do it,” says Balbi when discussing
the lack of incentives for students to
get involved.
“I feel that without Wellslink I would
have been a lost soul. I didn’t come
to campus with SUmmerstart and the
workshops provided by the program
made me want more, showed me
that I could have more, and showed
me that I had the support from people who wanted to see me do more,”
Balbi says. There are solutions that can yield
potential hope for the future of Latino student involvement in these
programs. After speaking with staff
and students, mutual accountability between both parties should
exist. While Latino students may
not be interested in joining these
programs, OMA and OSA should
also explain further the benefits
in participating in such programs.
Possibly holding panel discussions,
alumni mixers, putting advertisements in publications like the Daily
Orange that promote these programs to potential candidates are
places to start. Participating in programs like Wellslink and SLI will allow Latino students to lead more effectively student organizations and
enhance their professional skills
past Syracuse University.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 12
Cultura
Comida y Familia
The intoxicating aroma from the kitchen
brings Latino families together
by María Sanfeliú
S
tart with some sofrito,
onions and garlic, a
couple of cubitos, some
sazón, a few spices…
oh yeah and you add some food
too. Whether its meat, fish, rice,
plantains, or fritters, Latin people
always make sure it’s full of flavor, just like them. Mixing elements from their
European, African and native
American roots, while adding
their own twist, they make a variety of delicious dishes. From
crunchy tacos in Mexico, juicy
churrasco and chorizos in Argentina to beans and plantains
in the Caribbean islands, food is
one of the most important parts
of the Latino culture. But why do Latinos plan
their days around every meal
or spend all day in the kitchen
chopping onions and sweating
in front of a huge pots and pans
on the stove? Andrew Zimmern,
13 | La Voz Spring 2011
a food expert and host of Travel
Channel show Bizarre Foods
says in his blog, “Puerto Ricans
have a strong sense of family,
and big mealtime gatherings are
an important part of the culture.
Cooking together is an essential
bonding activity”. This idea that Latin culture is
food and family oriented holds
true in many Latin households
and for Noris Sola, a junior Biochemistry major at Syracuse
University, it is no exception. She
says, “For my family knowing
how to cook is a ritual. Once you
know how to make certain foods
perfectly you become an adult. For me it was beans, the first
time I made them better than
my mom she ‘You’re a grown up’
and she started to cry”. To anyone unfamiliar with Latin
culture it may seem weird that
even with all this food on the table,
they’re just multitasking – spear-
ing a piece of chicken on a fork
in the left hand and animatedly
gesturing with the knife in the right
hand. The whole family gathers
around the table to share stories
about their day, talk about important issues, joke around and gossip. Keeping conversation going
while eating is an art even after the
desserts are gone. “Eating means
being with friends and family, so
when I cook it’s for people I care
about,” Sola says. But meals are not just meant
for familial bonding. Carlos Morell, a senior Communications and
Rhetorical Studies major at SU
says, “Like language, what we eat
identifies us. Eating a plate of rice
and beans is like going home.”
For Francisco Rodriguez, owner of Las Delicias restaurant, the
answer is simple food is his life.
Rodriguez says there is nothing
like a good plate of arroz con
gandules, pernil and tostones
on the table, whether it is set out
for a large group or a table for
two. It’s not just the taste, but the
memories, the feelings, traditions and the people that come
along with it that make Latin
food truly unique and a central
part of this culture.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 14
Cultura
Native Tongue
Immigrants fearful of failure, neglect to teach their
children Spanish.
¿Qué querría
usted para
cenar?
?!?!?!?!?!?!
by Jennifer Molina
S
panish is one of the five
main romance languages
in the world along with
French, Italian, Portuguese
and Romanian. Many find Spanish
sensual, seducing people with your
tongue rolling skills. The proper roll
of the ”r” can send shivers down a
person’s spine enticing them with
each word. One can often say the
silliest things and to a non-Spanish
speaker, it sounds amazing. With a language this provocative,
who wouldn’t want to learn it?
Unfortunately, it is harder for next
generation Latinos to learn their
native tongue. According to the
2000 census, 85% of first generation Latinos can speak Spanish
and only 28% of second generation Latinos consider themselves
fluent Spanish speakers.1 With the loss of language, there
is a fear of losing culture as well.
Language is a crucial aspect of a
culture, displaying where you are
15 | La Voz Spring 2011
from and representing your country. When immigrants come to
America, the ability to speak English is associated with success.
Emma Ticio, an assistant professor of language and linguistics at
Syracuse University, says “Many
parents misunderstand what the
language would do for their children. Some feel that their children would not learn English if
they are taught Spanish first.”
The responsibility of passing
down the Spanish language lies in
the hands of the parents, but some
parents don’t have the time.
Arianna Wright, a freshman Communication and Rhetorical Studies
major at Syracuse University, is a
second-generation Latina. She says,
“As a half Latina who does not speak
Spanish I would like to defend myself. My father is an American although
he is mixed he considers himself
Black so he only speaks English. My
mother worked and was unable to
immerse me in Spanish for long periods of time. So the only language I
was around was English.”
Being Latino/a in the United
States means that we are part
of two cultures. As we become
“Americanized” we may lose
touch with parts of our native heritage. While not knowing Spanish does not make you any less
Latino/a, it can isolate you from
your family because you may be
unable to communicate with previous generations.
Second generation Latinos
develop of a “middle of nowhere”
mentality because they are not part
of the Anglo Saxon community or
the Latino community. Wright says,
“I do feel deprived because up until now I could barely communicate
with my grandparents.”
There is not so much a fear
of losing the Spanish language
globally. After all, Latinos make
up the second largest population in the U.S., surpassing that
of other minorities like African
Americans and Asians.
It seems very unlikely that the
Spanish language is going anywhere since it still remains the
second most spoken language.
Ultimately children are missing
out on part of their culture. Without the rolling “r’s” and the rapid
tongue movements, children
may lose touch with their heritage. But it does not mean there
is a lack of appreciation for the
beautiful culture that it is. While
language isn’t all of what makes
a culture, it is a big part of what
brings it together.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 16
Cultura
syracusenewtimes.com
Our Dream is
to Fulfill Theirs
by José R. Martí
A
s the summer sun rises, students of the Dominican
Republic Education and Mentoring (DREAM) Project
wake up excited. They leap out of bed with big smiles
and run to the Guzman-Ariza Summer School and
Camp to laugh, play and learn. 17 | La Voz Spring 2011
For five weeks over the summer, college student volunteers
head to the Dominican Republic to teach children who
otherwise would not receive
quality education. The DREAM
Project sets out to improve the
quality of education of children
born in poverty in the Dominican Republic. Volunteers work
alongside teachers at the
Gúzman-Ariza Summer School
and Camp.This program allows
middle school and high school
students to take classes in
math, science, reading, writing
and the arts.
The program provides
opportunities for many of the
students who have never been
outside of their hometown, to
go on field trips to zoos, beaches, museums and parks. Each
volunteer works with up to 20
students and after a few short
weeks of being together incredible bonds are formed.
Alaina Mallete, a sophomore Spanish major and
current president of the DREAM
Project chapter here at SU, says
the kids’ love participating in
this program. “The students
come everyday with great motivation convinced about improving themselves,” Mallete says. Many of these children live in
poverty and cannot afford to
pay for this kind of mentorship,
educational guidance and
general support. In order to keep the program operating, fundraisers
are organized by the members of the SU chapter to buy
necessary classroom materials, food and get money for
fieldtrips. This semester in
February there was a breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant
on Erie Boulevard in Dewitt,
NY. Customers paid $5 for
a breakfast that included:
pancakes, bacon, toast and
orange juice. $4 from each
breakfast was donated to
the SU chapter.“In our eyes,
money is just money, but for
these kids, it is an opportunity
to a better education, thus a
better lifestyle,” says Mallete.
The DREAM Project provides a glimpse of hope to
these children. Mallete says,
“These kids all aspire to
become pilots and doctors,
but they don’t have the certainty we do that someday
this dream will be reached.
It provides a chance to get
closer to this dream. In a way,
our dream is to fulfill theirs.”
La Voz Spring 2011 | 18
Firm Roots
photos by Taylor Miller and
Alexander Abdalian
19 | La Voz Spring 2011
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21 | La Voz Spring 2011
La Voz Spring 2011 | 22
Reflejo
La Casita
by Cassandra Laboy
L
a Casita Cultural
Center is a non-profit
organization, established in 2007 as a
Syracuse University based
project that focuses on bridging gaps between Syracuse
University and the city of
Syracuse Latino population. The center serves as a place
of tradition, art and education, where cultural events for
faculty, students and neighborhood residents are held.
La Casita has become
one of the Chancellor’s
nineteen leadership projects
recognized by scholarship in
action. Since then La Casita
has gotten much praise for
highlighting the heritage of
Latino residents in central
New York and increasing the
recognition of cultural groups
23 | La Voz Spring 2011
that make up the region. On
campus, La Casita is becoming a well-known name and
many students are becoming interested in helping the
center develop. One way that
students can become involved is with a newly formed
project called Tus Palabras
de Hoy (Your Words Today):
A community engagement
project.
Tus Palabras de Hoy is an
interdisciplinary contemporary arts program. It was
created by Point of Contact,
an arts organization creating
opportunities for the exploration of diversity and the
exchange of ideas through
the verbal and visual arts. It
gives local youth ages 12 to
17 the opportunity to work
with local Latino artists and
community organizations
including the Spanish Action
League (La Liga) and Hispanic Action league. The program
gives Latino youths interested
in arts the chance to attend
workshops from early March
2011 to the end of April
2011. In the completion of
the project, participants will
showcase their exhibitions
and performances at the
Point of Contact gallery during the months of May and
June of this year.
The program targets Hispanic families and what words are
conveyed and how they influence Latino youth. The theme
originated through a campaign
from the Hispanic Action
league focusing on positive
words having positive impacts
on our youth. Tere Paniagua, a
Latin American Studies professor at Syracuse University, currently in charge of Tus Palabras
de Hoy and Director of Point of
Contact believes this program
is much needed for Latino students in central New York.“This
program provides an outlet, allows youth to process anything
painful and negative and turn
it into something beautiful and
help healing.”
For this project to become successful Syracuse
University students are
needed in many areas.
Tus Palabras de Hoy needs
student artists and models
as well as volunteers during
workshops. Motivational college students confident in
their work will help community youths and push them
to move forward.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 24
Reflejo
Discriminating
Diversity
Are Latino students really getting the same opportunities
as other students?
by Alaina Mallette
Have you ever felt unjustly
punished in school or received a
poorly justified grade? Have you
ever been denied access into a
program based on your race?
Hopefully, your answer is “no,” but
unfortunately, not everybody can
say the same.
Juan Augusto Molero, a student
at Broward College and local of
Watertown, New York, has faced
racial discrimination. Alice Dingman Molero-Herron, Molero’s
mother, says that when he was in
elementary school she tried to put
him into an exceptional student
program to challenge him. There
were some requirements to be
a part of the program: teacher
nomination, good state test scores
and a good score on the IQ test. Molero had the nomination,
good test scores and excelled on
the IQ test. However, the program
correspondent debated the validity
of Molero’s IQ score claiming that
25 | La Voz Spring 2011
it was not likely that a bilingual
student could score so high. The
correspondent made him take the
IQ test a second time. He scored
even higher. Would someone
have questioned the validity of an
American-born child?
Educational racial discrimination is controversial topic in 21st
century United States, despite our
“acceptance” of diversity. At one
extreme end of the continuum, some
Americans claim that the American
educational system is inherently
unequal with favoritism toward white
children. The other extreme would
declare that claim as ludicrous. If
some students feel discriminated,
how would one prove this claim and
with what data? This issue cannot
be solved with hard evidence, but
it does lead to the conversation of
how it can be solved.
Syracuse University and Le
Moyne Spanish professor, Miryam
Bar, says that she has never heard
anyone complain about this. America’s diverse population is
a blessing many other countries do
not get the chance to experience
but Bar adds that miscommunication continues between American
and Latino cultures.
Professor Bar sees Latinos as
more outgoing and more apt to
“bend and press” the rules a little,
whereas Americans are more disciplined and stick to the rules. Cultural diversity is both a
blessing and a curse for students. America is full of rich and diverse
cultures, but there are still people
who are unfamiliar with other cultures, which can breed confusion
and prejudice.
Silvio Torres-Saillant, a SU associate professor and director of the
Latin American Studies Program,
says there are “systemic structural
impediments in the quality of
Latino education in America.” He
says, Latino children tend to have
limited resources and the administration and teachers can have
negative attitudes towards these
children. Legislators, Torres-Saillant
says, “feel like they can get away
with not meeting the needs of the
[Latino] student population.”
On racial discrimination in
public schools, Deborah Palmer, an
assistant professor at the Univer-
sity of Austin at Texas says, “a significant portion of Latino students
are in English-medium classes, because half the spots in classrooms
go to mainly white middle-class,
English-speaking children.”
To make matters worse, Palmer
says, “Although teachers and
school leaders recognize these
problems, they have not moved to
remedy them.” This case proves
that there are indeed incidences
where Latinos are not offered the
same opportunities as their Caucasian counterparts. Racial discrimination is prevalent in all corners of
the United States.
What should be done? Shall we
sit around and wait for equality in
the public school system, or should
we rally in the streets? In reality, a
person’s upbringing molds his or
her perspectives of others. Parents
need to teach their children early
on that there are people who do
not look, talk, or act the same
way, and that it is normal. Parents
should help their children embrace
the diversity in the United States. The U.S. Constitution says, “all
men are created equal,” but it is
time to allow these words to come
to life in the classroom so that one
day there will be no controversy on
whether or not educational discrimination truly exists.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 26
Cocina
Cocina
Let’s face it, the dining halls here don’t serve gourmet food and there
isn’t much variety to choose from. It’s a good thing that Irvin Daniel, a
prep cook at Alto Cinco on Westcott Street, gave us this simple recipe
for a delicious salsa that tastes great as a dip or even over the dry
grilled chicken from Shaw’s dining hall. Daniel suggests giving it a kick
of heat with a touch of cumin and chili powder.
College is great for those who like to get creative with cooking.
The lack of money for food and the cravings for home cooked
meals forces you to think of alternatives that are cheap, but still hit
the sweet spot. This is the collegiate spin-off of the classic CubanAmerican Guava and Cream Cheese Empanada that can easily
be made in your campus apartment as a snack or dessert.
by Jada Wong
by Christine Oh
Alto Cinco’s Tomato Onion Salsa
Cream Cheese and Jelly Empanadas
Makes: 20-24 Empanadas
Instructions:
Ingredients:
2-3 medium tomatoes, diced
½ red onion, diced
½ white onion, diced
1 jalapeno, diced
1 lime
2 chopped tablespoons of cilantro
Salt
Pepper
Vinegar
Ingredients:
Serves 4-6
Instructions:
1. Toss the diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro in a
bowl
2. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste
3. Add a splash of vinegar and a squeeze of lime for acidity
4. Let it sit in the refrigerator for thirty minutes before serving
27 | La Voz Spring 2011
1 box of Pillsbury Refrigerated Ready
Made Pie Crusts (softened as directed
on box) OR 1 package Goya Empanada
Discos (Dough Rounds) Cream cheese
Grape jelly and/or Strawberry Jam
Cinnamon (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Roll dough out thin. Cut with 3-4 inch
round cookie cutter. (Tip: you can use
the top of a glass or mug)
Place a small spoonful of jam and cream
cheese in the center of each circle.
Fold the dough over in half and press
the edges down with a fork. If empanada
does not seal put a little water on the
edges before sealing.
Mix a 1:3 ratio of cinnamon and sugar
in a bowl.
Roll empanadas in cinnamon sugar mixture and place on an ungreased cookie
sheet/ non-stick baking pan/ parchment paper. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
(May take longer if you are using Goya
Empanada Discos)
La Voz Spring 2011 | 28
Puerto Rico: Mi isla, Mi inspiración
by Marcel Garcia
Mi vida entera eres tú Porque en ti vi la luz Y las primeras caricias de mi niñez
Junto a ti disfruté mi adolescencia
Inquieto, atrevido, desafiante…
Mi orgullo eres tú Porque forjaste lo que soy
Y porque sembraste el valor, el
candor y el honor
Que construyó mi alma
Llena de amor y sencillez para
lanzarme al mundo
A conocer fronteras y a compartir tu ser
para continuar el sueño de
aquellos que lograron lo que eres hoy , un terruño sin
igual
para junto a mis hermanos ver
brillar tu estrella...
la mas bella
para gozar de la inmensa paz
que tú me das
Isla bella De paisajes hermosos De mujeres preciosas
De gente humilde y amable
Un paraíso terrenal…
Tierra pequeña e inmensa
Humilde y bravía
A ti te debo toda mi hombría y a
ti te debo mi inspiración
De ti aprendí a ser sincero
Aprendí a tener empeño De mi gente, de mi pueblo
Aprendí a tener orgullo A luchar y a batallar si perder el
don de gente
A derramar la bondad Compartiendo lo que tengo sin
avaricia y con gran generosidad
Tu espíritu vive en mí
Mi identidad eres tú
pues donde
quiera que vaya llevo tu marca , mi origen mi ser…
mis pensamientos…
son tuyos
Hoy estoy lejos buscando un
mejor futuro
y a tus palmeras y playas se que
voy a regresar
Eres mi norte
Eres mi espíritu y mi fuerza
Eres yo y yo soy tú
29 | La Voz Spring 2011
Volver al hogar triunfante Volver a tus brazos como el niño que regresa al regazo de su madre
¿Y cómo olvidarte?
Sería olvidarme de mí mismo…
No tener orgullo, ni dignidad, ni
amor,
No tener lealtad no tener passion
Imperdonable…
Eso sería como morir al nacer…
Estás en mi corazón
Latente, presente
Sin ti no sería nadie
La Lucha E-board:
Peter Rosado, President
Veronica Abreu, Vice President
Cristine Jacquez, Public Relations
Karina Escano, Community Service Chair
Giselle Perez, Secretary
Francis Fernandez, Web Administrator
Guramrit Khalsa, Editor-in-Chief La Voz Magazine
Thanks to Taylor Miller, Alexander Abdalian
and our advisor Anthony Otero
La Voz is a student run publication dedicated to promoting awareness of the
various viewpoints, ethnicities and cultural traditions surrounding the Latino
community. Its pages address social, economic and political issues facing
Latinos today.
La Voz Spring 2011 | 30