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Although the dance is several months away, with a possible date
of February 14, 2009, LSU is already in the planning stages,
working on booking a band for the event, López informed this
reporter.
Only fundraising dollars are used to make arrangements for this
baile, so fundraising is a high priority for the
organization.
Their most recent fundraiser occurred this past Friday—a burrito
sale, where one could place an order with a LSU member and the
members themselves assembled the burritos at El Sueño, a
local Mexican restaurant on West Laskey Road in Toledo. It was
also at El Sueño that the organization hosted an Ohio
State vs. Michigan party on Saturday, Nov. 22.
The organization, formerly known as “Movimiento Estudiantil
Chicano de Aztlán – Latino Student Union” was co-founded in 1972
by María Rodríguez-Winters and became an official UT
organization a year later. It wasn’t until 2003 that the name
was changed to simply the Latino Student Union.
LSU has approximately 80 active members, according to López.
The Latino Student Union is leadership-oriented, as LSU is
prominent in the community for their volunteer efforts as well
as fundraising for scholarships, which are awarded to current
students at the university.
Many of its members are also involved in the Primos
program, a peer-mentor program for Latinos at UT, which pairs a
younger student with a more experienced student, who knows the
way of university life and can impart some wisdom in that
respect. The group will have a special retreat on Dec. 5, 2008,
in Rocky’s Attic, on the third floor in the Main Campus Student
Union.
Representatives of LSU often visit local high schools throughout
the spring and fall semesters in order to showcase the
organization and to connect with incoming students.
Representatives of LSU and Primos visited Whitmer High School
this past Thursday and have plans to visit several others
throughout the school year.
A
weekly study-table for LSU, hosted by UT’s Multicultural Office,
helps these students focus on their studies and get any academic
help they need from either each other or outside mentors.
Wednesday, December 3rd will see a sponsored “Exam
Cram,” a multiple hour study session in the Multicultural Office
in preparation for fall semester’s final exams.
LSU meets every Monday evening at 8:00pm at the Student Union,
UT’s Main Campus, room 2591.
For more info on LSU, visit: http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2008/011808/Serratos.htm
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