Student Affairs assisting fire victims

Memorial service was held to honor students lost

The president's investiture, postponed due to the campus-area tragedy, has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 29 at Mershon Auditorium.

During the past 10 days, Ohio State officials have worked to assist families of the victims and the students displaced in the fatal April 13 fire on 17th Avenue. A memorial service, coordinated by Student Affairs and the University Interfaith Association, was held for the students April 23.

Alan Schlessman, 21, a sophomore business major from Sandusky, and Kyle Raulin, 20, a pre-business sophomore from West Chester, died in the fire along with three Ohio University students, Erin DeMarco, Andrea Dennis and Christine Wilson.

Bill Hall, vice president for student affairs, said representatives of the university's Student Advocacy Center have been working with the victims' families to coordinate their needs regarding travel, accommodations and other arrangements relating to their children's enrollment at the university.

In all, nearly 35 students lost their homes and their possessions as a result of the fire, which affected three buildings on 17th Avenue. The university, the Red Cross and Undergraduate Student Government stepped in with shelter, food, clothing, toiletries and bedding to meet the immediate needs of the displaced students. Hall said help also has been provided in finding alternative housing, making academic arrangements, replacing textbooks, counseling and meeting other needs.

Hall said several of the displaced students spent the night following the fire at the Blackwell Inn, while others went to the residence halls and some stayed with friends. He said finding permanent housing for those who will remain at the university this quarter is a top priority. The students also were given BuckID cards for food and laundry services.

In response to inquiries from members of the university community and others who wish to contribute to helping these students, a Fire Victims Assistance Fund has been established at Fifth Third Bank. Donations may be made at any Fifth Third Bank. The account number is 31373723. Persons with other items to contribute are asked to contact the Student Advocacy Center at 292-1111.

Columbus police and fire officials say the cause of the blaze was the result of arson, and are offering a reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of those responsible. Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Hall announced the university's contribution of $5,000 to the reward fund, which is now nearly $25,000. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 645-8477 or (877) 645-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.

By Jo McCulty Carmen Alvarez-Breckenridge, left, contributes to a conversation during a Jan. 13 El Futuro Eres Tu, a weekly discussion group sponsored by HSS, while Raquel Arias and group leader Ney Arias, look on.

Hispanic Student Services celebrates silver jubilee

By Susan Wittstock, onCAMPUS staff

In the Office of Hispanic Student Services, Carmen Alvarez-Breckenridge, coordinator, and Michael Yeh, graduate assistant, are working as a team this year, coordinating the office's silver jubilee celebrations.

Their partnership is one of many that Alvarez-Breckenridge has participated in and witnessed since her office opened in September 1977.

"It's the partnerships that make this jubilee not just for Hispanic Student Services, but for anyone and everyone who has improved the quality of life for our students," Alvarez-Breckenridge said. "An office functioning by itself would not have lasted 25 years."

Alvarez-Breckenridge is grateful for the many people she has met and worked with over the years. "We have a history of 25 years with so many friends. It's been a blessing from God to have the support of so many people," she said.

Alvarez-Breckenridge was hired at Ohio State 25 years ago to create the Office of Hispanic Student Services.

"We wanted a home away from home, creating a sense of belonging, lessening the sense of alienation students feel when they come to college," Alvarez-Breckenridge said.

That mission is still important today. "We're definitely relationship based," said Yeh, who began as the office's graduate assistant in September. "Interacting with students is an important part of my job, to have them know me as a person."

Yeh, who is Korean/Taiwanese, has found that Hispanic students encounter many of the same issues as international students. "It's been very interesting to see how many areas we can meet on common ground," Yeh said. "As a minority myself, I hope I can provide encouragement that you can make it to graduate school or medical school or whatever field you want to aim for."

HSS provides a number of services. "We do advocacy and education and empowerment," Alvarez-Breckenridge said. The office offers programs and workshops, serves as a clearinghouse to direct students to other university offices, and provides opportunities to build community.

When the Multicultural Center was formed two years ago, HSS was included under its umbrella.

"Carmen really set the pace way before someone had charged her with that," said Christine Ballengee Morris, director of the Multicultural Center. "I think that's evident in the way the Hispanic community has been very supportive of that office. It also is a good reason for the increase in that particular constituency -- because there are those efforts and those connections being made. Carmen certainly has built bridges."

For students coming to Columbus, which hasn't traditionally had a strong Hispanic community, building bridges is vitally important, Alvarez-Breckenridge said. "When you're coming from Puerto Rico or Latin America, where you speak Spanish and the culture is entirely different, or even coming from Lorain, where the food and stores are all in your neighborhood, and then you come here … Taco Bell just doesn't cut it."

Students such as Erica Lerma, a junior who is the president of the University-wide Council of Hispanic Organizations, say they appreciate the office's efforts to make them feel comfortable.

"As an entering freshman, I found a place to call home within HSS, and a second mother in the director Carmen Alvarez-Breckenridge. She made me feel as if I belonged at OSU, and has always offered her advice and friendly hugs to all her 'children,'" Lerma said. "The programming offers a little taste of roots. That can be so important to the new Latino/a student. This taste of our culture can be the difference between a student leaving or staying. I know that it made the difference for me."

A year's worth of activities were organized this year by Hispanic Student Services to celebrate the jubilee, rather than sponsoring an Hispanic Awareness month. Events, planned in partnership with numerous organizations and offices, include lectures, discussions and a variety of cultural events. (See sidebar and box, below, for details.)

"We rejoice in the jubilee, but we won't rest on our accolades. Now we strive for the golden jubilee," Alvarez-Breckenridge said. "How can this university develop individuals who will be the change agents not just in this country, but in the world? That is our legacy, but it is also our hope for the future."

Cultural ambassadors visit Ohio State

By Susan Wittstock, onCAMPUS staff

On a trip to visit his family in Ecuador, Victor Mora found himself extending invitations to artists, scholars and musicians to visit Ohio State. To his surprise, they accepted.

And so, the Ecuadorian Cultural Ambassadors Project, which is taking place through May 2 in locations across campus, was born.

Mora, who is the associate director of Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience, had offered to visit the parents of Ohio State graduate student Carolina Reyes while he was in Ecuador. As it turned out, Reyes' mother is well versed in the subject of colonial art of Ecuador and her father is a member of Los Bocheritos, a band that performs traditional Spanish and Ecuadorian music.

"I had a wild thought: Wouldn't it be fantastic if others at OSU had a chance to see this?" Mora said.

Later in his trip, Mora had the opportunity to meet the artist Bolivar Garcia. Mora owns several of his relief paintings and was impressed with the painter's personality.

"Half-jokingly, I said, 'Would you consider going to Ohio State to share your paintings?' He got excited and said 'Tell me when and I'll make myself available.'"

Back in Columbus, Mora's enthusiasm was catching, and he gained the support of several departments, offices and student organizations. The project found a home as a part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Office of Hispanic Student Services.

"What started out as a nice, unplanned experience turned out to be a wonderful program," Mora said.

While here, Los Bocheritos is performing numerous times; Ximena Reyes will give a number of talks about Ecuadorian colonial art, sharing images of "La Escuela Quitena" from the collection of the Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador; Garcia will set up a studio in the Ohio Union's Expressions Gallery and his sculptured paintings will be on display in Bricker Hall; and local musical group Sumakta, originally from Otavalo, Ecuador, will join Los Bocheritos for a performance at the closing reception on May 2. (See info box for details).

"We are excited to share an aspect of Latino culture that is not all that well known in Ohio," Mora said. "Hopefully, we've established a connection with these Ecuadorian artists that will continue long after these performances have ended."

Hispanic Student Services jubilee

The Road to Success: El Futuro Eres Tu!

Tuesdays, Spring Quarter, 5-6 p.m., The Multicultural Center

For more information, contact Ney Arias at arias.11@osu.edu or Carmen Alvarez-Breckenridge at breckenridge.1@osu.edu.

April 29: Homeland Security. How has your life changed in the aftermath of September 11? Where do we go from here?

May 6: Reaching for Academic Success. Students will be able to meet faculty members from various colleges and departments.

May 13: Focus on Latino. A new focus group established in collaboration with Men's Initiatives, the Multicultural Center.

May 20: Food for Thought. A discussion where participants determine the topic for a social hour of dialogue and refreshments.

May 27: Focus on Latinas. A support group for Latinas at OSU where participants decide the topic.

June 3: Hermanos y Hermanas Somos: Brothers and Sisters Together! A multicultural discussion on race and ethnicity.

Know Your Rights: A Two Part Series by the Civil Rights Commission

6:30-8 p.m., room 436, The Multicultural Center, May 5 (Part I was April 7)

May 5: Know Your Rights: Part II. An informal conversation with Ronell Tomlinson, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and Katherine J. Wise, Student Housing Legal Clinic, Ohio State. Refreshments provided.

The Ecuadorian Cultural Ambassadors Project

For more information, contact Victor Mora at mora.1@osu.edu or Carmen Alvarez-Breckenridge at breckenridge.1@osu.edu.

Program highlights:

April 25: Bocheritos serenade, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Multicultural Center lounge.

Presentation of "La Escuela Quintena," 1:30-2:30 p.m., Multicultural Center,

April 28: Bocheritos recital, 7-8:30 p.m., Ohio Union Conference Theater.

April 29: Bocheritos performance, presentation of "La Escuela Quintena" and demonstration of Bolivar Garcia Esculto Pintura technique, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hale Cultural Center, and 6-9 p.m., International Affairs Scholars Program - Fireside Chats, Kuhn Honors and Scholars House.

April 30: Bocheritos performance and presentation of "La Escuela Quintena," 5-7 p.m., Office of International Education, Oxley Hall.

May 2: Closing reception, 4-6 p.m., Faculty Club.

The Latino Studies, Hispanic Student Services Lecture Series

May 8: "Delinquent Subjects: Illegality, Prudentialism and the Government of Immigration," Jonathan Xavier Inda, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1:30 p.m., Multicultural Center.

May 13: "Real Men-Real Women: Boxing and the Articulation of United States Mexican Identity," Gregory S. Rodriguez, University of Arizona, 1:30 p.m., Multicultural Center

June 3: "The Jaguar Returns: Immigration, Impunity and the Specter of Violence in U.S. Central American Fiction," Ana Patricia Rodriguez, University of Maryland, College Park, 1:30 p.m., Multicultural Center.