Uncertainty among Hispanic students rises without deans

By Jennifer Supernaw

While Hispanic students are still recovering from the stunning December announcement that Dean of Chicano Affairs Shannon Salinas would be leaving the University, concerns about students whose needs are going unmet are on the rise.

The news of Salinas' departure left Hispanic students with no administrative representative. The resignation came just two months after Valeriano Ramos, Dean of Puerto Rican Student Affairs, announced that he would be leaving Yale.

Julio Gonzalez, CC '99, community chairperson of MeCha, explained, "Cultural deans understand the specific needs of ethnic communities."

Ramos served as a faculty liason for the student organizations Despierta Boricua and La Casa Cultural de Julia de Burgos. In addition, he supervised the 1996 Pre-Registration Orientation Program, which provides minority students with an introduction to Yale.

William Burgos, acting director of Puerto Rican student affairs, has taken over some of Ramos' responsibilities. However, he only spends one day of the week on campus, leading some students to doubt whether he can adequately perform duties expected of him.

"Dean Ramos was very involved in the community and all our activities. I don't know how much his replacement can do if he just comes to Yale once a week," said Lara Charneco, SM '97.

Dean Richard Brodhead, BR '68, GRD '72, has repeatedly expressed his commitment to finding replacements for both Ramos and Salinas by the fall. A committee including professors, Puerto Rican,and Chicano students, and members of the Administration has been created to search for worthy successors to the popular deans.

Carlos Paz, ES '98,chairman of the Professional Society of Latinos, said that he believes the Administration is truly committed to taking students' opinions into account when choosing among candidates.

Erick Diaz, BR '98, agreed. "We have seen the efforts made by the University and know that they have put together a competent selection committee," she said. "It's not Yale's fault that they haven't been able to replace the dean, they haven't shown a lack of willingness to get the job done."

According to Mecha President Norma Copado, TC '97, the selection committee for Salinas's replacement has advertised the position in scholarly journals across the country.

Students also voiced concern about the lack of administrative guidance fot Hispanic groups. Vice-chairman of Professional Society of Latinos James Gutierrez, CC '99, said, "Salinas was instrumental in getting our group started. She always kept in contact with as many students as she could without getting involved with all the politics."

Latin American Student Organization President Hiram Angueira, PC '97, voiced his discontent over the powers given to the cultural deans. "Ramos wanted to have more contact with the students, but as a dean he was given a lot of work that had nothing to do with the student interaction."

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