Latino Students Now Largest Minority at CCSN
Shirley Grover and Jose Duarte
Issue date: 12/1/01 Section: Coyote News
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This number places Latinos as the largest minority at CCSN, exceeding both African-American and Asian student populations.
Joe West, director of CCSN Institutional Research, released the numbers of CCSN's student population. Currently there are 5,367 Latino students enrolled at CCSN, with African-American students making 9.8 percent and Asian students coming at 9.7 percent.
It's easy to notice that the Latino population has increased, as the Spanish language can be heard spoken anywhere throughout the campuses.
The importance of Latinos is such that there are two organizations supporting them within CCSN.
The Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) was created to, "become a voice for the Latino student population at CCSN and to address the needs of Latino students whether they be social, economical, educational, political, or cultural," said Emmanuelle Leal, S.O.L. President.
This organization was created in Las Vegas in the early 1980s at UNLV and was founded at CCSN in 1990 by the current advisor Larry Mason, Dean of Community Outreach at CCSN.
"SOL was created to become a vessel to which Latino students could advance to the next step and for them to unite and become one voice one raza," Mason said.
SO.L sponsors various cultural events throughout the academic year, for example Salsa Nite and Cinco de Mayo. This organization orients Latino students to college life and support them in their pursuit of higher education and advancement. S.O.L. also plans to create new scholarships for Latino students in their effort to ensure the successful retention of Latino students, among others.
Another group supporting and representing Latino students is the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Founded in 1929, LULAC is the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the nation.
LULAC advisor Carlos Ezeta said their mission is "to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of the Latino population at CCSN."
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