Diversity at OU: Hispanic-Americans

 

1971: OU La Raza Day

Oakland University Latin-American staff and students, in conjunction with the Admissions Office, sponsors the university's first "La Raza Day". La Raza Day is a campus visitation program, culturally oriented to Latino high school students.  The goal of the program is to "promote cultural awareness and to explore the opportunities and facilities available in higher education for...Latino student[s]". The second annual La Raza Day is briefly mentioned in the April 18, 1972 Oakland University Newsletter.

_{Image: The Hispanic Outreach Program}

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1988: Hispanic Heritage Month

On September 15th, Hispanic Heritage Week is expanded to a month long celebration (see information on the Center for Multicultural Initiatives website). A dance performance from the 2012 OU Hispanic Heritage Month is featured above.

_{Image: Hispanic Celebration Month}

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1990: Mission: Unity

Mission: Unity, consisting of students, staff, faculty, and alumni, is formed to facilitate cross-cultural discussions about race.  Marc Allen Payne, a senior, is its founding president. The organization is later renamed Cross-roads. (11 July 1990 Board of Trustees minutes).

_{Image: Oakland University Archives}

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Photos courtesy of the Oakland University Archives.